Guyanatime 20 february 2018

Chinese lauded for contributions to Guyana

…as local community ushers in Chinese New Year Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

P12

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Issue No. 3487

2nd forensic audit

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Audit Office to seek criminal charges over noncooperation at City Hall

Blackout P5 blankets Georgetown, East Coast

Page 3

...as transmitter explodes

…as PAC hauls M&CC over coals for lack of records Lindo Creek Massacre CoI

Cummingsburg Accord

“AFC got more than it deserved” – WPA Social Cohesion Ministry launches Mash band

No witnesses: public hearings postponed again

$80 vat included

Page 11

Page 7

Judicial appointments

Bar Association warns about rushing P9 process …says action outside Constitution void

Wales severance cries

Ex-workers to picket President’s P10 office tomorrow

Page 14

Pensioner slapped with narco trafficking charge

The Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department on Monday launched its Mash band for the 2018 float parade at the ER Burrowes School of Art. In photo Dr George Norton dances with some of the persons who displayed the costumes as Permanent Secretary Melissa Tucker and the school's Administrator Ivor Thom look on

Bandits invade New Amsterdam ...escape with home cash, jewellery

CH&PA shells out $1B for GuySuCo land

Page 9

…but does not know where land is situated

P15

Father of 6 fined P15 for narco trafficking Vendors to soon occupy P13 Kumaka Market tarmac

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

2nd forensic audit

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, February 20 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, February 21 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 20 – 06:45h-08:15h and Wednesday, February 21 – 07:25h-08:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Lightly cloudy skies with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Overall temperatures are expected to range between 20 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to North North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 07:22h and 19:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.66 metres and 2.63 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:57h and 13:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

Audit Office to seek criminal charges over non-cooperation at City Hall …as PAC hauls M&CC over coals for lack of records

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n a day when the Treasurer of the Georgetown municipality was absent owing to a “doctor's visit” and the accounting officer who was present had no answers, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hauled the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over the proverbial coals for the collective failure to account for monies.

But with even Communities Ministry Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell complaining of lack of cooperation from City Hall, Auditor General Deodat Sharma revealed that another audit would be carried out at the municipality. He made it clear that approaches would be made to the Director of

Auditor General Deodat Sharma

copies of meetings pertaining to the City Council’s financial statements, documents previously promised by the Georgetown municipality’s treasurer. McGarrell

City Hall

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Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers this time around, if the intransigence continued.

“Normally, in the regulations of the audit act it says that when I finish a forensic audit I can send it to the DPP for advice. The Public Accounts Committee was disappointed with the type of information we’re getting.

Even the PS says he can’t get the cooperation in terms of the relevant information that he needs,” Sharma told Guyana Times afterwards.

The DPP is usually called in when advice on criminal charges is being sought. In the case of City Hall, this will be done if non-cooperation over the supply of records continues.

The PAC met in the National Assembly on Monday, when McGarrell and accounting officers from various municipalities were made to give account for some $401 million in capital subventions.

There are nine municipalities and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Audit Office of Guyana had found that as at December 31, 2016, $396.5 million was expended. From the start, City Hall’s financial status, how it spent almost $175 million and its failure to submit documentation dating from 2005 posed a challenge to the PAC. PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali questioned McGarrell on whether he had come with

had not walked with such and he revealed that the Treasurer, Ron McAlmont, had been unable to attend because of a doctor’s appointment.

When asked by committee member Juan Edghill whether there was anyone

else who could supply that information, the Permanent Secretary indicated that only the Deputy Treasurer was available. Edghill then ordered McGarrell to send someone to fetch the Deputy Treasurer from City Hall, as it was within walking distance.

“On our last appearance, the Ministry’s internal auditors would have made several attempts to meet with the Treasurer to have this prepared and submitted. They were written and even up to our appearance today, it was indicated that this in-

formation had to be provided,” McGarrell explained to the Committee, when asked what efforts he had made to get the minutes.

But when he appeared, City Hall’s Deputy Treasurer John Douglas was no wiser when it came to the city’s finances. Douglas admitted that he was not present at the PAC hearings last year, but that he was aware of the documents that were supposed to be provided.

Even though he was aware, however, he had not come with the documents. turn to page 5

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

The quest for social justice

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ccording to the United Nations, the principles of social justice are upheld when countries promote gender equality or the rights of Indigenous peoples and migrants.

Additionally, countries advance social justice when they remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, or disability. On November 26, 2007, the General Assembly declared that starting from the 63rd session of the General Assembly, February 20, will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice.

For the UN, the pursuit of social justice for all is at the core of its global mission to promote development and human dignity.

This year’s theme is “Workers on the Move: the Quest for Social Justice”.

The adoption by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) of the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation is just one recent example of its commitment to social justice. The Declaration focuses on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work. It constitutes a compass for the promotion of a fair globalisation based on Decent Work, as well as a practical tool to accelerate progress in the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda at the country level. It also reflects a productive outlook by highlighting the importance of sustainable enterprises in creating greater employment and income opportunities for all.

The General Assembly recognises that social development and social justice are indispensable for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among nations and that, in turn, social development and social justice cannot be attained in the absence of peace and security or in the absence of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Further globalisation and interdependence are opening new opportunities through trade, investment and capital flows and advances in technology, including information technology, for the growth of the world economy and the development and improvement of living standards around the world. Today, there remain serious challenges, including serious financial crises, insecurity, poverty, exclusion, and inequality within and among societies and considerable obstacles to further integration and full participation in the global economy for developing countries as well as some countries with economies in transition.

To mark this occasion, Journalists around the world will bring together concrete stories and testimonies about the challenges of social justice and labour migration and to suggest possible policy responses to address these challenges. They will also use the opportunity to bring to the fore issues on labour migration by highlighting the positive contribution of migrant workers to countries of origin, transit, and destination as well as the key aspects such as their fair recruitment.

As part of the programme of activities, participants will also contribute to the UN TOGETHER campaign, which has the purpose of encouraging global action in promoting non-discrimination and addressing the problem of rising xenophobia against refugees and migrants.

In his message, Secretary General of the ILO, Guy Ryder emphasised that migrant workers, like all workers, are entitled to fair treatment; however, he also pointed out that many migrant workers end up trapped in jobs with low pay and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, often in the informal economy, without respect for their labour and other human rights.

He further outlined that good governance will foster strong cooperation across migration corridors and regions, which should be guided by international labour standards, in particular the fundamental principles and rights at work and the relevant ILO and UN Conventions.

The ILO is, therefore, encouraging the adoption of fair labour migration governance frameworks at all levels – global, regional and national. These include a comprehensive, integrated and “whole of government” approach that engages labour ministries together with business, and employers’ and workers’ organisations – those on the frontlines of labour markets.

February 20, 2010, marks the annual commemoration of World Day of Social Justice, which recognises, in the words of UN General Assembly Resolution that “social development and social justice cannot be attained… in the absence of respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms” .

Most migration today is linked, directly or indirectly, to the search for decent work opportunities. While there are many Guyanese who seek employment in other countries, there are also immigrants who have opened businesses locally who are also deserving of fair treatment. On this day, therefore, all Guyanese should join in the global call for social and economic justice and demand that the Government promote inclusive development for all citizens.

Elated members of the Berbice Delight Dance Troupe after being awarded the first prize in the Chutney Dance-Off group competition which was held during the Chutney finals at the Leonora Synthetic Track, West Coast Demerara on Sunday evening (Carl Croker photo)

A tribute to Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen Dear Editor, I would like to acknowledge my debt to an extraordinary man, Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen, former Attorney General and World Court Judge. Uncle Shahab, a man of par excellence. He was the spark of my intellect, the fire of my soul. He humbled me with his intelligence and his passion for knowledge and growth. He made us all Essequibians proud, an eminent and world court jurist.

His passing brought us sadness and irrevocable memories. Uncle Shahab and his two brothers Moeen and Zahir frequent us at a little Mosque at Johanna Cecilia, Essequibo Coast.

A humble man, he would pray with us on that hard floor covered by a discoloured carpet. He would exchange pleasantry with the old folks and encourage the young ones to work hard at school. I can never forget him and his brother’s generosity. We eat from their hands during the rough days of pover-

Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen

ty. My mom looked forward for their charity and Zakat and Uncle Shahab had never failed us and for that I am eternally grateful.

Uncle Shahab has impacted my life tremendously, words fail me and adjectives are limited to correctly describe this gem – Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen, but permit me, I will still try.

He was full of grace.

Grace is the life of tal-

ents. Grace is the breath of speech. Grace is the soul of action, and grace is the ornament of ornaments.

Perfection is the adornment of our nature. But grace is the adornment of perfection itself. Without grace, beauty is lifeless. It surpasses valour, discretion, prudence, even majesty itself.

That was Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen – pure and amazing grace. It’s a pity that a fantastic, astonishing man like Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen is only born once in a generation. He consumed my entire being through his extraordinary brilliance. His stunning words were the most dazzling pearl necklace around the neck of humanity. Millions will stand in front of GodAlmighty wearing his necklace and be granted salvation through the fact that his astonishing words brought them into contact with the divine author.

Additionally, when our contemporary historians will write the annals of our

history, Dr Mohammed Shahabuddeen will be on the top of the list of the most influential men of our time. He stood tall like a palm tree and was never swayed by the wind.

The joy of having known him trumps all the other temporary pleasures I ever had. I cannot bear the thought that if I were to subtract him out of my history, what my life would be like. Throughout our sojourn on earth one person can touch our lives and we become better, much better.

Peace to the greatest jurist of the 21st century, as he has returned to the divine author, peace to a stern advisor, peace to a generous giver and peace to a friend.

May Allah – the Almighty, bless him with the highest station in paradise. May Allah – the Almighty, give his love ones patience and perseverance in this time of grief.

Yours truly, Nazar Mohamed

tuesDAY, February 20, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Stricter monitoring regulations for forestry sector

…as EU-FLEGT agreement to be finalised by mid-year

S

tricter monitoring regulations and better market access for the logging sector is on the horizon as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is expected to finalise the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) as a part of the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) initiative, by the end of June 2018.

The GFC said when the agreement is finalised it would create greater access and more lucrative market opportunities for Guyana’s forest products to the EU and other markets.

A Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country outside the EU. The purpose of a VPA is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU come from legal sources. The agreements also helps timber-exporting countries stop illegal logging by improving regulation and governance of the forestry sector.

The Commission added that they are also embark-

dating loggers to tag their produce, so they can track them to ensure it is within their licensed agreement.

The EU FLEGT Regulation of 2005 empowers the European Commission to negotiate (VPAs with timber-exporting countries; under these agreements, VPA partner countries ensure they only export to the EU legal products carrying FLEGT licences.

Forest Inventory

GFC Commissioner James Singh

ing on initiatives to expand local and regional trade of forest products by improving marketing, product development and quality.

Guyana joined the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative. The FLEGT system mandates countries to use the Wood Tracking System to tag logs and their stumps so that when it reaches the point of export it could be traced backed to the origin to ensure its legality. The system is not new to Guyana since they have been man-

Audit Office to seek...

from page 3

He made promises to supply the requested paperwork by today (Tuesday).

In view of the lack of information, Douglas had to be asked by the Committee what he was actually privy to as the Deputy Treasurer.

City Hall

Last year, the AG’s attempts to conduct an audit were stymied by documents not being provided.

According to Sharma at the time, there were a number of gaps that remained unfilled in the investigation.

He had noted that as a result of these missing and sometimes even damaged documents, there would be a number of pages in the final report that would carry disclaimers. This is all despite City Hall being the ones who wrote to the Auditor General’s Office requesting an audit.

It was at one time reported that during the final phase of the audit, the probe was stalled due to this lack of cooperation. Things had reportedly reached a point necessitating a letter to be sent to Town Clerk Royston King, over the undue delays being caused by City Hall officials not making the necessary documents available for the auditors.

There have been persistent calls for City Hall to be fully audited. Back

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in 2015, the Georgetown M&CC had received two grants under the Communities Ministry’s Capital Programme for the “Georgetown Restoration Programme”, in addition to the “Emergency Solid Waste Management of Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill”.

Each multimillion-dollar grant was based on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Communities Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and the capital city’s Town Clerk.

According to the Auditor General’s 2015 Report, there were several “discrepancies” in the way the allotted money was spent during the year.

The last time an inventory was done on the forest was in the 1950s and according to the GFC, having an inventory is critical towards better management of the resource. Hence, the reason for setting aside $120 million for the commencement of a national forest inventory.

“With so much importance attached to the forest both in terms of timber production and more importantly the whole issue of climate change and environmental services, the Government has recognised the need to conduct a national forest inventory.

The allocation (of $120 mil-

lion) is to commence phase one of a three-year process,” the GFC notes.

The monies, according to the Commission, will be utilised to develop modern inventory methodologies, the reporting platform, data collection design, sample plots and pilots of over 200,000 hectares of forest.

According the Commissioner of the GFC, James Singh, with the establishment of the forest inventory, Guyana would be moving towards harvesting based on species rather than just filling a quota hence resulting in the better management of the precious forest.

“The forest inventory gives you a sense of what the resource base is so if you know what the resource base is, you can market properly, we can plan our operations and we can have a long-term plan rather than cutting on what is available. It also helps with the better management of the forest,” he explained.

The GFC noted that the inventory is critical to supporting the Green State Development Strategy.

Blackout blankets Georgetown, East Coast ...as transmitter explodes

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esidents in Georgetown and along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara on Monday were subjected to a power outage, after a transmitter explosion around 20:00h at the Kingston Power Station.

The explosion caused the shutdown of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System.

Power was later re-

stored to the East Bank of Demerara. In a release, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) begged for consumers’ patience as they worked to restore the power supply to all areas.

The widespread blackout upset many residents who over the past several months have been experiencing a spike in power outages as GPL struggles to provide a reliable power supply.

Correction

G

uyana Times inadvertently published in our February 19, 2018 edition that a prison officer was attacked and robbed by a Police Corporal.

However, it was a Joint Services rank, who allegedly carried out the act and not a Policeman as reported.

Standoff at Rama Krishna Primary

Education Ministry finally intervenes to settle dispute

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fter one year of contentious relations between Head Teacher Melanie Cornette of the Rama Krishna Primary School and the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA), the Education Ministry has finally intervened to resolve issues at the school.

The intervention came following reports by Guyana Times, which revealed the students’ progress had been hindered as a result of the tension between the PTA and the headmistress.

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry stated that a senior education officer visited the school to resolve matters and to understand the reasons behind the recent protests by parents of children who attend the Primary School.

The statement further related that parents and teachers were engaged on the matter and were given an opportunity to voice their concerns. A number of matters were raised, and solutions conceived, some of which were immediately implemented, according to the release.

Moreover, the statement related that the locks were changed on the classroom doors and class teachers were given a key while a spare remains with the

Head Teacher.

Following the meeting, teachers were encouraged to transform the image of the Rama Krishna Primary School and to form themselves into a strong team.

Also coming out of the meeting was a plan to have a community drive, which will involve the teachers and Ministry officials engaging the community and its members to build partnerships with stakeholders. This is scheduled for the month of March.

Only recently, parents picketed the school and stated that they were left with no other option but to highlight their issues and concerns in the media, since they were not given any action from the relevant authorities.

The parents had intended to escalate their protest if immediate action was not taken soon.

Some of the troubling issues that were highlighted in the letters to the Education Ministry and in the media include the Head Teacher’s mismanagement and harassment of the school’s vendors in October 2015, verbal threats and abuse of the PTA President and other parents, the refusal to allow the PTA to function, daily unprofessional behaviour, and alleged misappropriation of school funds.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

…a brief daily sharing exercise can help young students build a sense of community and the confidence to participate in class

By Brooke MacKenzie

I

’m a learning specialist at an independent school, and the students I work with in small pullout groups have all been identified as needing extra reading support. Last school year, I noticed that the students in my first grade reading group all seemed to have one thing in common: They were painfully shy and hesitated to participate or take risks.

I initially chalked this up to the fact that all six of them were introverts as well as struggling readers.

However, something in my teacher instincts told me that I didn’t have the full picture of who they were.

At a professional development workshop about communication in the age of emojis, I learned that if students’ voices are heard at the beginning of class and they have a chance to speak right off the bat, their participation will increase. The presenters recommended doing a quick scan of students as they enter the room: What is their body language communicating? Are there any changes in mood? Might a student benefit from a private conversation before or after class?

I decided to incorporate a quick share at the beginning of each reading class to see if it would help my students become braver participants. Given the time constraints I faced in my instructional period, as I only see my students for 45 minutes per day, I knew that the sharing would need to be brief. And, as with any skill, I knew that I’d have to explicitly teach

my students how to do it effectively.

Teaching one quick thing

When I introduced this share as “one quick thing.”

I gave these directions: “I want you to think about one thing in your life that you’re excited about right now. I’ll give you some quiet think time to get ready.

There are three rules: One, it has to be just one thing.

Two, it has to be quick.

Three, it can be about anything. And if you don’t want to share, you can

to work on focusing on the most important point during our sharing”), and then I modelled the expected behaviour and asked the students to briefly share their observations.

These were the mini-lessons we covered: Main idea vs detail—we focused on these separately.

Speaking so that your audience can hear.

Using specific names for people, places, and things – for instance, if a story was about a particu-

cused on what the speaker had shared (in other words, this was not a time for the listener to share a personal story that may or may not be relevant).

I observed over time that my body language played a role. If a student shared for several minutes (which often felt eternal), I began to feel a sense of urgency that I would convey in my posture and facial expression. I would have to force myself to take a relaxed posture, put an empathetic smile on my face, and nod. I would also cover my mouth with my hand, which made me look thoughtful while also reminding me to stay quiet.

A change in energy

pass.”

I then modelled my own one quick thing and gave them some think time. After a few sessions, I began planning mini-lessons to help their sharing become more effective.

These mini-lessons not only helped the sharing be more meaningful, but also provided an opportunity for me to teach critical listening and speaking skills.

Each mini-lesson followed the same structure: I delivered a teaching point (e.g., “Today we’re going

lar family member, stating that person’s name and relationship to the student.

Avoiding vague words like stuff, thing, place, this guy, etc.

I found that my students also needed mini-lessons on how to speak briefly and clearly, and similar instruction on how to be effective listeners. We had lessons on keeping our eyes on the speaker, using engaged body language (sitting still, not playing with a pencil, etc), and thinking of follow-up questions (if time allowed) that still fo-

As my students began to share one quick thing regularly, I noticed a change in their energy. They burst through the door. They participated actively during the whole period. Even their perceptions of themselves as readers seemed to become more positive. If there was ever a day when I forgot to start class with this routine, they gently reminded me.

For those of us who only have students for one period, it can be challenging to create a sense of community that ultimately leads to increased participation. With young students, starting the class period with one quick thing – which students can share individually or with partners – can go a long way in creating a safe space for student voices. Building in a few minutes at the beginning of class for students to speak can impact the learning for the rest of the period. (edutopia.org)

Talking with teens about STIs

…an open conversation can bolster prevention efforts

By Jon Lasser, PhD

How STIs affect teens According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common STIs among teens are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Both chlamydia and gonorrhoea are bacterial infections that can be treated with antibiotics, but can cause serious health problems if left untreated.

Genital herpes and HPV infection are caused by viruses and cannot be treated directly, but there are treatments for the symptoms.

How to talk about preventing an STI Talking to your teen about sex may be uncomfortable.

However, you do not need to know everything about STIs to talk to your teen. Abstinence and limiting the number of sexual partners are the best ways to keep from getting an STI. Encourage your teen to delay sexual behaviour until they are older and more mature and to talk to you first if they decide to become sexually active.

When you talk to your teen, place STIs within the context of responsible decision- making. Explain that birth control, like the pill, does not prevent an STI. Condoms are the best way to reduce the risk of getting STIs when sexually active.

Before talking to your teen, practise what you want to say with another adult.

Ask for feedback about what you are saying as well as your body language, including facial expressions. Identify uncomfortable topics. With the other adult, practise talking about these topics until your comfort increases.

When talking to your teen, use the following steps as a model to respond to questions (American Social Health Association): Clarify what your teen is asking, i.e. “Do you want to know about…?”

Think about the best way to communicate your message, including the right

Continued from Monday

words and body language.

After you have decided what to say, give accurate information.

If you do not know the answer, tell your teen that you do not know.

Together, go to web resources to research the answer.

By learning together, you reinforce open communication.

Ask your teen to think about situations in which they may be tempted to have sex. Talk about how peer pressure affects the decision to have sex. Together, identify ways to either not have sex or to reduce the risk of STI infection.

What to say when your teen gets an STI People often feel ashamed when diagnosed with an STI. Getting an STI does not mean that your teen is a bad person. Many good people get an STI. Talk to your teen about how they feel about the diagnosis and reassure that their feelings are normal.

Make sure that your teen gets good medical treatment.

Many STIs are curable with antibiotics. If your teen’s physician prescribes a medication, ensure your teen takes all of the pills as prescribed. Some STIs are not curable; however, there are treatments available to reduce the symptoms. Talk to your teen’s healthcare provider about the best treatment options.

To prevent future infections, talk to your teen about their recent sexual history. Your teen’s recent sex partners will need to be tested and treated. Work with your school counsellor and nurse to develop a way of notifying your teen’s sexual partners while protecting your teen’s privacy.

Most importantly, help your teen to identify what behaviours put them at risk of infection. Talk about ways to reduce their risk in the future by thinking of situations where they may be sexually active. For each situation, identify ways to reduce risk.

(psychologytoday.com)

news

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cummingsburg Accord

“AFC got more than it deserved” – WPA

By Samuel Sukhnandan

T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) stands to lose more than they would gain if they are to revise the Cummingsburg Accord that was struck between itself and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Executive, Dr David Hinds has opined.

Dr Hinds, whose party is also part of the coalition Government, told Guyana Times that the “sweetheart deal” signed between the two parties on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2015, is good in its current form, especially given that the AFC has in his opinion given a fair deal to form part of Government.

While declaring that there is no need to rush a renegotiation of the Accord, the WPA executive noted that these things by their very definition move at a slow pace. However, he said the question that must be asked is “What does the AFC want from a reconstituted Accord that it doesn’t already have?”

“Remember the AFC got more from the Accord than it duly deserved – it struck a hard bargain and got quite a lot. So, it would be conscious that it risks messing up a “good thing.” Once the Government becomes en-

trenched, there is less and less reason to upset the status quo – that is a reality,” he stated.

According to Dr Hinds, he thinks that the AFC is overly eager to touch the Accord and it would make little political sense to push for it, when the risks far outweigh the potential benefits.

The political analyst said the AFC’s attraction to some African Guyanese was its independence from the People’s National Congress (PNC) but a promise not the join with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

“That changed in 2011 when African Guyanese returned to their traditional camp once the PNC joined with the WPA and others to form the APNU. It was then that some Indian Guyanese embraced the AFC with the understanding that the party would not join with the PNC,” he opined.

The birth of the APNU/ AFC coalition, according to the WPA executive, was difficult for that section of the Indian Guyanese voters, but some of them kept faith with the AFC with the party’s promise that it would maintain its “identity” in the current coalition Government.

“That has proved to be a difficult undertaking. The AFC has had to make the difficult choice between coalition stability and party inde-

WPA Executive, Dr David Hinds

pendence. And it has clearly come down on the side of the former. The political benefit to the party is that it remains in Government with a sizable chunk of Cabinet positions and parliamentary seats. The political cost is that it has lost its Indian Guyanese constituency,” he added.

President David Granger, who is the Leader of the APNU, has hinted that there is no immediate need for the Accord to be reviewed, although he has given his party’s commitment to going through the process.

“All I can say at this point in time is that there is no compulsion that the Accord be reviewed… (The AFC) can allow it to expire

in 2020 or it can make request for a meeting but the A Partnership for National Unity is committed to coalition politics and I would say that the advent of the coalition into Government has been good for Guyana – we are better together and we would like to see the Accord continue,” Granger had stated.

Last month, AFC’s Leader Raphael Trotman told reporters at a press conference that the party has already identified a team that will represent their interest in talks with the APNU. The Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC) has eight members which include Dr Vincent Adams, Dr Rohan Somar, Marlon Williams, David

Patterson, Joel Edmond, Sherod Duncan and one representative each from the party’s Women for Change and Youth for Change.

In mid-November 2017, the top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with coalition partner, APNU. This decision was taken after the AFC – the smaller of the two factions forming the Government – was accused of being coerced by its large partner.

There have been reports that the AFC was not too comfortable with the current Cummingsburg Accord which sets how the two coalition partners would divide up the Ministries.

Under the current configuration of Government, the AFC has received the portfolios of the Prime Minister, Public Security Ministry, Public Infrastructure Ministry, and the Agriculture Ministry,

among others.

The AFC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has mandated that the party’s leadership formally write to APNU with regard to the review and revision of the Cummingsburg Accord.

Trotman had committed to doing so to initiate discussions with its coalition partner. But several months have passed and Trotman is yet to write the APNU. This process was expected to be completed by the third anniversary of the signing of the Accord, February 14, 2018.

The Cummingsburg Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years, and was focused primarily on the General and Regional Elections. As such, Granger said the AFC has several options, including allowing the agreement to proceed as is until its expiration in two years’ time.

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS Five Star Backdam killing

“I had a spoon…I just jook he” – caution statement

Dead miner: Timothy Adams

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s the High Court trial of Marlon Marion Freeman continued on Monday, Police Detective Corporal Bryan James was called to the stand and testified that he penned the caution statement of the accused, who allegedly admitted to killing miner Timothy Adams at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD) on December 22, 2013.

Adams met his demise while en route to a mining camp, but Freeman has since denied that he was responsible for the killing In court on Monday, Corporal James claimed that the defendant detailed another story to him under caution. He reportedly claimed that Freeman might have killed Adams because he thought the miner was going to pull a gun after he con-

fronted him over money that was owed to him. According to the Policeman, he administered the caution statement on December 25, 2013 in the presence of then Police Constable Zane Williams, who signed to witnessing the exercise which took place from 14:00h to 14:40h.

James informed the 12-member mixed jury that Freeman had indicated that he first went to work with his uncle at Five Star Backdam, but after they “got wrong”, he went to work at Gavin Blacks’ mining camp. According to the caution statement, Freeman, a pork-knocker, was promised $5000 a day by Blacks, but after three weeks passed, he was only paid $30,000. He had enquired from Blacks about his money and some time after lunch on the day in question, he bought a “piece of weed” and then saw Adams coming to the camp about 15 minutes later.

According to the evidence from the caution statement, Freeman also enquired of Adams about his money, saying: “Big man, wam to me money?”

“I see he go to he waist and I didn’t know if he had a gun or wah, but I had a spoon which I sharpen and I just jook he by he neck and he fall down. After I see he ain’t moving, I get nervous,”

Murder accused: Marlon Freeman

the defendant reportedly said. He then left the scene.

He also claimed that the gold he later gave a female was not taken from the deceased, but it was gold that he had in his possession.

Corporal James later testified that when he administered the statement, he had informed the accused of his rights, saying that he told him he could have a lawyer, friends or relatives present.

The Policeman added that at no time was violence used on Freeman, nor was he threatened or offered $250,000 bail to give his statement.

Former Police Constable Williams, who witnessed Freeman giving the caution statement, testified earlier during Monday’s trial.

He claimed that Freeman looked at the statement at 14:40h and appeared to be reading it. Under intense

cross-examination by the defendant’s lawyer, Folio Richards, Williams said that he was not aware that Freeman had been tied up for nine-and-a-half hours on December 24, 2013, one day prior to him allegedly giving the caution statement. The former Policeman who said he did not threaten the defendant also denied Richards’ suggestion that he and Detective James refused to give Freeman something to eat even though he had cried out for food.

“You took advantage of the accused’s inability to read and write,” the lawyer contended, to which Williams replied: “No, Ma’am.”

At last Thursday’s trial, Medex Colleen Edgillo testified that she had pronounced Adams ‘dead before arrival at the Pakera Hospital’ at Matthews Ridge, NWD, after examining the man and finding that he was lifeless and had no heartbeat.

Edgillo had recalled seeing a deep puncture wound to the right side of Adams’ neck and a laceration to the left side of his head.

State Counsels Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore are presenting the prosecution’s case in the trial, which continues before Justice James Bovell-Drakes. (Shemuel Fanfair)

“Granny” murder

Trial commences after several delays

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fter a period of pre-trial delays, the formal court proceedings of Second Street, Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD) resident, Kevon Alfred, is scheduled for this morning before Justice Navindra Singh. This comes one week after the defendant’s former lawyer, Stanley Moore, SC, discontinued representing the accused due to “other ob-

ligations”.

At Monday’s hearing, Defence Counsel George Thomas entered his appearance for the accused but told the Judge that he required more time to go through the case file. As such, the Judge adjourned the matter for today. Alfred is accused of murdering 75-yearold Joyce Lewis on March 26, 2014, at her Lot 3630 Christiani Street, North

Accused: Kevon Alfred

Ruimveldt, Georgetown home. According to reports, Lewis’s lifeless body was

found in her home by Police and her sister, Veronica Deen on the morning of March 26. The woman who was a re-migrant was reportedly strangled during an early morning robbery.

Five months after she was killed, Alfred was arrested and charged with the murder. He was committed to stand trial in the High Court on October 19, 2015.

The State’s case is being presented by Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander. The Prosecution is expected to call several witnesses when the trial commences.

Between a rock and a hard place…

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...with coalition politics ou may think, dear reader, your Eyewitness is a tad too taken up (obsessed?) with the trials and tribulations of the AFC and APNU marriage pact. But as he took pains to point out before, it’s not just a matter about the wankers in the two parties – it’s about coalition politics in Guyana, writ large. And coalition politics is, frankly, the only way forward for us in our God-forsaken country.

And what the APNU/AFC coalition has shown us in the last three years is the PNC isn’t to be trusted. The PPP obviously knew what they were talking about when the question of “inclusive governance” with their then Opposition was first mooted. They insisted the PNC would have to prove it could be trusted. Well, we can all look at what happened to the AFC and absorb THAT object lesson!!

But after screwing the AFC royally – meaning the latter had to be singing “do wha’ yuh want wit’ me!!” while the deed was being done – APNU just demonstrated that’s not enough. It only took a HINT from PNC leader Granger that the Pre-Nup Accord should continue “as is”, for the AFC leaders to drop their tails between their legs, nuzzle up to him and moan, “No mas!” Of course, they couldn’t just say that right out...they want to ‘save face”... but mumbled as to how Trotman will be writing Granger on the matter.

But who do they think they’re fooling? Before Granger dropped his hint, hadn’t all the AFC leaders insisted they’d carry out their threat to “renegotiate” the Pre-Nup based on the recommendations of their high-level team they’d established a year ago? But they tried to distract observers of their coalition travails by announcing they MIGHT be going into the Local Government elections joined to the hip with APNU. Might?? Might? There ain’t no “might” about what’s going happen at the LGE – save the “might” of the PNC being demonstrated!! As sure as the sun’s gonna rise in the east tomorrow, the AFC is gonna plead with the PNC to accept them on the LGE slate! For the simple reason that Chairman Ramjattan predicted three years ago – they’re now “dead meat” to the electorate!! And their dilemma is if they go it alone, that will be exposed for everyone to smell!!

And the PNC knows this...and it’s why Granger will have them swinging in the wind. A new Cummingsburg Accord WILL then be DICTATED as the pro quid quo for hiding the AFC under the PNC’s skirts.

And forget any 40 per cent of post-2020 Ministries, Rafael “Nassau” Trotman will be the last AFC man standing! …on oil contracts Your (modest and humble) Eyewitness hates bringing this up...but wasn’t he the first one to compare the oil contract ‘renegotiated” by “Nassau” Trotman with those of several African countries – including Uganda where the Government flew up a high-level team, courtesy Chatam House?? And how we suffered by comparison? Well, the press is finally moving – glacially! – towards the second point then made by your Eyewitness.

To wit – if those countries’ oil contracts were so much better than ours, but they’ve remained dirt poor – where did all the money go? It was literally SIPHONED off by the officials in the Governments...that’s what!! And we saw there were two ways the money-siphoning worked – either AFTER the oil was pumped or BEFORE. The correlation when the terms were not so good for the country on paper, the money would be siphoned into private bank accounts of the Government officials.

So when will the local press begin to follow the money?? ...on the Counterforce The PNC wants to focus on the “counterforce” during what PNC-leader calls “the troubles”. But like newton’s law of “action and reaction”, doesn’t there have to be a “force” before the “counterforce”?

So who were the “political sophisticates” (according to Kwayana) who were behind this Buxton Force?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

News

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CH&PA shells out $1B for GuySuCo lands …but does not know where land is situated

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conundrum arose before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday, when it was revealed that in 2016, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) shelled out $1 billion for land but does not know where it is located.

CH&PA’s acting Finance Director, Reaze Abrahim, was placed in the hot seat when he was asked by PAC Member Juan Edghill about expenditure for housing development. He related that $1 billion was paid to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) back in 2016.

When probed further as to where this land was located, he however could not provide that information.

Though he made a commitment to provide this information by today, this did not find favour with the PAC. “I don’t mind getting answers tomorrow (today),” Edghill informed the

Committee, noting however, “but if I’m the Finance Director of an entity and I sign off on part of a contract that paid $1 billion, I must have an idea if the land is on the East Coast, East Bank, Essequibo, Linden, Corentyne. I must get an idea of where these lands were and are you in possession of the land.”

In response, the accounting officer related that “The land was purchased; however ownership has not transferred as yet. As such, we did not receive the list of areas according to accounting standards. Ownership has to be transferred until we receive that title or transport.”

This prompted Edghill to query whether the CH&PA at the time of the purchase, had an agreement containing details of the parcels of land. Edghill noted that this would include how many acres and price per acre.

that the information would be provided in due course.

The CH&PA also caught flak from PAC member Charandass Persaud, who chided them for the slow rate of housing development.

Housing units

At this point, Permanent Secretary Emil McGarrell came to the defence of the financial officer, pointing out that a commitment was made to supply the information at a later date. PAC member Nigel Dharamlall interjected.

“I’m still shuddering at this billion-dollar transaction. I can’t imagine that CH&PA would pay $1 billion out for land that it does not know where the land is.

Don’t you find that anoma-

ly very stunning?” he asked McGarrell.

“The officer indicated that he does not know as the Finance Director yet as to the location, the price per acre, the quantum of acreage until such time the legal paperwork is completed.

So my question still stands.

Don’t you find it startling that CH&PA paid for land it cannot identify?”

Dharamlall’s questions did not move the Permanent Secretary, who reiterated

Judicial appointments

Bar Association warns about rushing process …says action outside Constitution void

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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hile encouraging both Government and the Opposition to work towards reaching a consensus, the Bar Council of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has warned that if President David Granger acts outside of the Constitution in appointing a Chancellor and a Chief Justice, then it would be void.

The GBA reinforced that the appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice is governed by Article 127 of the Constitution of Guyana, the country’s supreme law, which states that these persons shall each be appointed by the President and in agreement with the Opposition Leader.

“Any action outside of the said Article 127 is unconstitutional, void, of no legal effect and would have embarrassing consequences,” the GBA said on Tuesday, while explaining that Article 127(1) of the Constitution, which reinforces that, is also clear in its meaning and effect.

According to the Association, the current climate surrounding the offices of the Chancellor and

Chief Justice is repugnant and shakes the public confidence in the legal system.

“It further unfairly undermines the dignity of the offices and office holders,” the GBA opined.

It was also noted that if for whatever reason the President and Opposition Leader cannot reach agreement under Article 127(1), only then is Article 127(2) is invoked. The GBA reminded that an acting appointment is made by the President after “meaningful consultation” with the Opposition Leader also.

According to Article 127 (2) of the Constitution; “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant… then, until a person has been appointed…, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as may be appointed by the President”.

“This has been done and therefore Article 127(2) has been fulfilled and exhausted. It is only if any of the provisos in the said Article 127(2) occur can it be invoked once again, failing which, the acting appointments continue until a substantive appointment can be made under Article 127(1),” the GBA added.

The association therefore reasoned that acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Chief Justice Roxane George cannot be removed and replaced by other acting appointees.

Given the current circumstances surrounding this issue, the GBA has urged both parties to work to break the impasse and arrive at a consensual resolution, especially in keeping with the spirit and intent of Article 127

of the Constitution, which it reminded was amended from its original form to foster collaboration.

Following Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s rejection of the nominees for the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice posts, President David Granger has publicly stated that he wants to rid State offices of acting appointments, and as such, he will be meeting with his legal team to ascertain the way forward as it relates to the appointments of these two top judicial positions.

Jagdeo in a letter addressed to the President, which was released to the media, said after having duly considered the nominations of Justice Kennett Benjamin and Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards under Article 127 (2) of the Constitution, he was unable to offer his agreement for their appointments.

His decision followed after a request was made to conduct background checks for one month. However, Jagdeo had since indicated his willingness to further engage the President on substantive appointments to these positions.

But Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced recently that President Granger could go ahead with the appointment of Justice Kennett Benjamin as Chancellor and Justice CummingsEdwards as Chief Justice, as “Government will be relying on provisions within the Constitution going forward.”

Harmon could not say whether the President will appoint his nominees in an acting or substantive role

When asked how many of the 1000 housing units slated to be constructed from $80 million in 2016 have been completed, the response was 24 houses.

The Ministry did not have any information of the actual cost for the houses.

“I am a little confused.

We have been told that so many millions were expended to put 1000 units together. Over a period of time, monies were allocated for labour and material. And only 24 units have been handed over? Is it that only 24 units have been completed or the rest of it will be handed over at a later date?”

“Are we just working with one contractor or a number of contractors to complete these units? I have a difficulty. If you have the money, materials have been purchased, why can’t we finish off 1000 houses in two years?” Charandass questioned.

Abrahim clarified that 52 houses were completed for 2017. The officer could not clarify the exact building methodology being used, but McGarrell noted that

the CH&PA changed its approach from hiring workers to contracting out work; due to the inefficient work.

The CH&PA, which is faced with the problem of steadily declining land availability in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), has embarked on a project called ‘Housing Solution 2017 and Beyond’. The entity has already identified plans for housing projects in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Ten (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

GuySuCo, which has for some time been bogged down by billions of dollars in debt, is currently engaged in divesting its assets to get much needed cash.

At present, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Special Purpose Unit is in charge of this process, with international firm PriceWaterHouse Coopers valuating its assets. GuySuCo was tasked with identifying its own lands or assets to be divested.

At the time of the news, however, Government was accused by the parliamentary Opposition of using a slush fund, at the level of CH&PA, to make the billion-dollar GuySuCo land purchases; a practise it was once critical of while in Opposition.

Grocery store owner on $75,000 for drug trafficking

President David Granger

under those constitutional provisions.

The President also said he does not believe that the courts should be “paralysed by the behaviour of one person,” referring to Jagdeo’s rejection of the nominees.

Jagdeo has since responded to the President’s comments stating that he (President) is either being dishonest or losing his memory when it comes to the issue of substantive appointments of the key judicial positions.

He recalled that Granger himself, who was leader of the then Opposition People’s National Congress (PNC) refused to agree to these very appointments of persons in those positions when the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic was in office.

The Opposition Leader accused the President of being the one who stymied the system for close to six years and only when he asked for one month; the blame has suddenly shifted to him.

Given the Government’s insistence to have these appointments done, the Opposition has vowed to challenge any unconstitutional move by President Granger.

A

Lindener was on Monday morning granted bail when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate slapped with a drug possession charge.

Caburn Robinson of Linden, Region 10 denied the allegation against him which alleged that on February 15, 2018 in Wismar, Linden, he was found to be in possession of 14.2 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

According to the 25-yearold man, he knows “nothing” about the charge being brought against him.

He was granted bail after Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objections to his pre-trial liberty.

Robinson was released on $75,000 bail and is expected to make his next appearance at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts on March 13.

10 news

tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Wales severance cries

Ex-workers to picket President’s office tomorrow

Former workers of Wales Estate have planned additional protests for tomorrow

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fter feeling that their calls have been ignored, former Wales Sugar Estate cane harvesters will once again picket the President’s office with the aim of having someone in authority look into their severance package plight.

According to information received by Guyana Times, the former employees, their families and other supporters will gather at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday morning to intensify their calls for termination benefits. This publication was told that the protest was likely to be taken to the High Court as almost one year has passed and the workers’ legal suit was yet to be called up before a judge.

Official operations at the Wales Estate were closed in December 2016, and some displaced cane cutters were still to receive their severance pay. Earlier this month,

the former Wales workers staged similar protest action and expressed much frustration that their colleagues from other estates were paid all or part of their severance, just weeks after the entities were closed.

However, their former employer, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has maintained that these workers were not entitled to this benefit, with acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State entity, Paul Bhim saying earlier this month that GuySuCo has honoured all its obligations regarding the payment of severance at the Wales Estate.

The workers who have been refused severance had refused to take up work at Uitvlugt on the contention that 22 miles were beyond the stipulation that the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA) allows. They have observed that they could

not be compelled to travel beyond 10 miles from their original place of work.

The retrenched employees’ representative body, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) had taken the matter to court since March 2017.

Since losing their jobs in late 2016, the former Wales Estate workers, their relatives and other residents in the surrounding communities have complained of deleting finances and sustenance challenges. Reports reaching this newspaper indicated that the remaining skeletal staff at Wales will similarly lose their employment as early as March.

The closure of Wales affected and displaced over 1000 workers directly and thousands of persons in Wales and the surrounding communities indirectly. Meanwhile, over 4000 workers attached to the

Enmore, Skeldon, and Rose Hall Estates were given dismissal letters in December 2017. However, some of the former Enmore and Skeldon workers could be rehired under plans by the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) to reopen the two estates as the State-owned body eyes private investors. This revelation has prompted stakeholders, including GAWU, to push Government to re-

hire all of the dismissed sugar workers on the contention that the sugar industry remained viable.

Meanwhile, GAWU on Monday sought to respond to media reports that when Enmore and Skeldon resume temporary operations that cane cutting will be undertaken by a contractor reportedly from West Coast Demerara. GAWU views this report as an upsetting

development, noting that this indicates that few of the displaced workers will have an opportunity to be re-employed.

According to its press statement, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has found that the promotion of such arrangements has served to “expand the army of the working poor across the world”.

GFC working to recover $80M owed by BaiShanLin

Board members of the Guyana Forestry Commission

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hairperson of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Jocelyn Dow, revealed BaiShanLin owes the Commission in excess of $80 million while noting that moves are afoot to have the monies recovered with the assistance of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Dow made the statement as a press conference on

Monday as the Commission recapped the performance of the GFC’s Board of Directors.

She noted that following the scrapping of over 680,000 hectares of concessions belonging to BaiShanLin, the company still owes the GFC over $80 million; and as such, they are making every effort to recover that.

“As it stands the GRA

has those assets and we have had some discussions as how it is we could jointly get to secure those assets and to offer them to sale so that we could get our money back. GRA sums are more considerable and they have the first lead on equipment so we have to work with then, as we are doing, to try and secure our monies,” she noted.

Turn to page 15

NEWS

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Charity Wharf

Lindo Creek Massacre CoI

No witnesses: public Region 2 still battling to find relocation spot hearings postponed again …as structure continues to sink

Commissioner, Justice (ret’d) Donald Trotman

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he lack of willingness on the part of witnesses to come forward is being blamed for the delay to commence the public hearing of the Commission of Inquiry into the Lindo Creek massacre.

The initial public hearing was postponed last Thursday when Commissioner, Justice (ret’d) Donald Trotman reported that there were some internal prerequisites and logistical issues that caused the postponement and did not announce a recommencement date.

However, a press release from the Commission related that the next date for public hearings would have been Monday, February 19. When reporters turned up at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Citizenship in Waterloo Street, Georgetown, they

were informed that all public hearings were “postponed until further notice.”

When asked why, the Commission’s Public Relations Department related that the initial reason remains valid.

The Lindo Creek CoI is the first of what the coalition Government has said would be a series of inquiries into the hundreds of killings which occurred during a crime wave that began in 2002.

The CoI, established two weeks ago, will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the killings of eight miners, and to report its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.

Sometime between June 12, 2008 and June 24, 2008, miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton

Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were shot and killed, and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining camp, which was being operated by Leonard Arokium.

The Lindo Creek massacre commission, which has been dubbed a “kangaroo commission”, is being headed by Justice Trotman, 80, who is the lone Commissioner selected for the job.

President Granger has described Lindo Creek as a “massacre of the innocent”, saying his Government believed the way the investigation was handled indicated that there was a high level of collusion. He had also rejected suggestions to extend the CoI’s focus to several years before 2008, when other major criminal activities had plagued the country.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic has expressed skepticism about participating in this CoI and supporting the work of the Commission, as the Party believes that given the manner in which the CoI was dragged and constituted, and the commentary from senior Government officials, it is designed to achieve a political outcome and continue the Government’s programme of witch-hunting Opposition personalities.

The Party has also highlighted that the Commission was set up along partisan lines.

Regional Councillors at the last RDC meeting discussing the condition of the Wharf among other business

T

he regional administration of Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) is battling against time to find a suitable relocation spot for vendors as the Charity Market Centre Wharf continues to rapidly deteriorate, posing danger to life and limb.

When contacted, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson related that they were still in consultation with the vendors to decide on a suitable relocation spot. Additionally, he explained that an engineer has been contracted to assess what needed to be done and how fast they should act.

“We have someone we are working with and all I can say is that nothing has changed. We are still looking for a spot for the vendors and working with them so that we come to an agreeable conclusion,” Hopkinson told Guyana Times.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Devanand

Ramdatt related that the Regional Democratic Council has instructed the REO to ensure that a solution is arrived at to prevent possible injuries.

Reports are that the Wharf continues to sink and the cracks are getting bigger.

The Charity Market Wharf, according to engineers, has sunk more than six inches and poses a serious risk to life and limb, but the vendors utilising the area are refusing to relocate until the Public Infrastructure Ministry mobilises a team to execute urgent repairs.

In an earlier interview, Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah said that the Market Centre Wharf at Charity has been engaging the attention of the Region’s Works Committee since August of 2017 and that was the reason for the initial study on the Wharf. She explained that they engaged the regional engineer who ventured below the Wharf and discovered

the rapid deterioration.

The engineer observed large cracks in the floor with several rotting boards.

Further, most of the piles beneath the Wharf were determined to be no longer able to support the structure. The solid concrete wharf is thus sitting precariously on a few remaining piles, and the prognosis is that it is likely collapse.

The vendors reported that they were aware of the danger posed by the sinking Wharf, but they needed a solid plan before they could relocate their businesses. They are also waiting on the Ministry to officially commence work and remove them.

The structure is 32 years old, and requires urgent attention since over 30 persons utilise it for vending and countless others for other purposes. It is also a parking area for many persons using their boats to traverse the Pomeroon River. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Chinese lauded for contributions to Guyana …as local community ushers in Chinese New Year

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s the Chinese community gathered to celebrate Chinese New Year on Sunday, President David Granger used the opportunity to laud this community for its invaluable contributions; both to the economy and the cultural diversity that Guyana unlike many countries, currently enjoys.

Addressing the 2018 Chinese New Year dinner held at the New Thriving Restaurant, Providence, East Bank Demerara, President Granger said Chinese have enriched the country’s national culture and diversified its economy.

He said ever since the first batch of Chinese indentured labourers arrived in 1853, they have continued to come.

He also used the opportunity to remind attendees that Guyana’s first President, Sir Arthur Chung was of Chinese heritage.

The Guyanese Head of State

President David Granger praising Chinese for their contributions to Guyana

also pointed to other notable Guyanese Chinese who have made a mark in society and for some of them, their work has helped to move Guyana forward.

“Guyana looks forward in this ‘Year of the Dog’ to strengthening ties of cooperation with China, ties which we have enjoyed since the

establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972,” as he also lauded the Chinese Government for its enormous support and kind assistance in many areas of development.

President Granger said the occasion is appropriate to renew long-standing ties of blood, history and friendship between Guyana and China. “A time to recall the undeniable contributions, which the Chinese have made, and continue to make to Guyana’s development,” he added.

The Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces also thanked the Chinese Government for their support towards national defence and development, noting the contribution made to Information Communication Technology (ICT), education and agriculture.

Addressing the event also was Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, who recommitted the Chinese

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun addressing a large gathering at New Thriving on Sunday

Government’s support to deepening bilateral ties and improving cooperation.

He assured that cooperation will continue between Guyana and China, particularly in the areas of trade and infrastructure, among others.

The foreign diplomat also spoke about Chinese contri-

bution to the local economy.

He said the Chinese community in Guyana has been able to create more than 1000 jobs for Guyanese.

Further, Ambassador Jianchun told the gathering that China will give its full support to the Guyana delegation that is set to take part in China’s International Import Exposition in Shanghai in November. He said it will also be a perfect opportunity to promote Guyana and Guyanese products.

The Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dog – officially began on February 16, and will last for seven days of joyous festivities.

While New Year is observed on January 1 in most parts of the world, the Chinese calendar is based on the movements of the moon.

The Chinese New Year usually falls between January 21 and February 20. The Year of the Dog will end on February 4, 2019.

This year also marked a

special occasion for Chinese, as Guyana observed the 165th anniversary of the arrival of the first batch of Chinese indentured immigrants on January 12.

From 1853-1879, a total of 13,541 Chinese, which comprised a diverse group who hailed from different regions, spoke different dialects and embraced different religious and cultural beliefs from China, were scattered across the counties of Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo. They were among the smallest group of indentured labourers brought to Guyana, and initially comprised only men.

Later on, a small number of Chinese women were brought to serve as indentured labourers. On completion of their indentureship, many of them returned to China or emigrated to different parts of the Caribbean.

Of the lot that remained, several became astute businessmen.

Pan-O-Rama competition electrifies Sports Hall

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he masterpiece of steelpan remains alive and vibrant as Republic Bank Limited and the Social Cohesion Ministry, through its Culture, Youth and Sport Department hosted yet another Mashramani Pan-O-Rama Steel Band Competition.

The competition, which is in its 10th year, sees steelpan players from across the country gathering to showcase their skill and style all while vying for top prizes.

The competition is held in two parts due to the large number of performances that would have to be judged.

The junior and senior solo, pan jazz and pan duet categories were held on Thursday, February 15 at the Theatre

Guild Playhouse, while the school and youth band and large band categories were held on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

For the junior solo category, Vijay Sharma, Darius Austin and Tirese Thomas copped first, second and third place respectively.

Meanwhile for the senior solo category, Hanani Ben Lewi walked away with the top prize for the third year in a row. He was followed by Michael Smith Jr and Detroy Dey who gained second and third place. The Duet category saw the coupling of Jovonka Williams and Don Johnson receiving top honours while Detroy Dey and Darius Austin gained the second spot and Adrian

Thirteen-year-old Joseph Taylor leads the Mahaicony Band in their sensational performance

Benjamin and Andrew Charles came in a close third. Kunjaz Ensemble, Pan Groove and Parkside Orchestra took first, second and third place respectively in the Pan Jazz category.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall was a buzz of ex-

citement on Sunday evening as hundreds of spectators gathered to be entertained by the sweet sounds of steel pan and Guyanese music.

The electrified audience was treated to one thrilling performance after the next, captivating them entirely for the four-hour long programme.

The highlight of the event came when young Joseph Taylor entered the arena with his band. The thirteenyear-old was the youngest conductor at this year’s competition. He performed well, perfectly synchronising his dance moves with the thrilling sounds of his band.

In the small youth band category, West Demerara

Secondary reigned supreme as they received first place, while Dolphin Secondary and President’s College took second and third. Crowd favourites, North Ruimveldt Secondary, did not fail to impress and once again took top honours in the Large youth band category. Bishops’ High School returned from not spacing last year to gaining second place this year, while Pan Wave Academy walked away with third place. The most anticipated category was the Large Band and they did not fail to amaze the theatre, leaving spectators dancing and screaming their praise. The National School of Music will once

again have bragging rights as they trounced the Guyana Police Force and Parkside Orchestra, which received second and third places respectively.

Republic Bank began hosting the competition in 2009 with only three bands participating and the competition has since grown into an annual calendared Mashramani event. For this year’s event, Republic Bank Ltd had injected some 2.8 million dollars in sponsorship.

The advancement of steel pan will not end at the Pan-O-Rama competition as Republic Bank Ltd plans to continue their work in teaching steel pan to upcoming generations. Under the Right Start Music Literacy Programme which is held over the August holidays, students will be able to further their steel pan skills.

The programme curriculum includes the history of steel pan, theory and practice.

Some 1000 students are said to have passed through the programme; with the majority of them usually taking part in the Pan-O-Rama competition. (Jemima Holmes)

NEWS

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NA school issues

Vendors to soon occupy Education Ministry to soon Kumaka Market tarmac

make pronouncement

New Amsterdam Multilateral School

T

he Education Ministry will soon make a pronouncement on how it plans to proceed with handling the issues at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS).

Amid ongoing controversy at the NAMS, the Education Ministry, along with regional officials, has moved to intervene and resolve the issues that have been plaguing the institution.

It was reported that during the course of last week, the Education Ministry convened a meeting of top regional and education officials to discuss the recent issues at the school which were reported in the media. Among the issues reported

by the media is the fact that 12 teachers have requested transfers from the institution following several disputes over the management of the school. Another issue was the ongoing dispute between senior and junior teachers.

In a press statement on Monday, the Education Ministry stated that a decision was arrived at for the smooth administration and improved performance of the school. A source told Guyana Times that while a decision has been made, the relevant officials are awaiting the Education Ministry’s go-ahead before the resolution is officially publicised.

This newspaper had previously reported that the headmistress (HM) and deputy headmistress (DHM) of the school were at loggerheads, which quickly turned into racial tension. One of the two was regarded as “untouchable”, making individual decisions on behalf of the school without consultations. It was also reported that even after a transfer was approved for the controversial teacher in November of last year, the issues continued owing to that transfer being rescinded. This move was the last straw for parents, who became extremely vocal in the media. Subsequently, 12 teachers had requested transfers out of the school; however, these transfer requests were ignored by the relevant authorities.

In January of this year, the parents and teachers moved to hold a ParentTeachers Association (PTA) meeting with the topic of discussion being ‘racial tension and transfers’. As a result of the bickering at the institution, an alarming number of parents have been transferring and requesting transfers for their children.

It was after the matter was reported in the media, officials from the Education Ministry met with all the parties to arrive at an amicable solution.

Few stalls currently line the Kumaka Market road

M

ayor of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), Henry Smith recently announced that vendors of the Kumaka waterfront were soon to occupy stalls on the market tarmac.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) understands that the market tarmac will facilitate 45 stalls.

Mayor Smith explained that the Town Council held discussions with vendors to ensure a “smooth transition” to the new facility. “Right

Children’s Mashramani winners announced A fter a thrilling performance on the streets of Georgetown last Saturday, the champions of this year’s Children’s Mashramani competition are Smyth Street Nursery, Graham’s Hall Primary and South Ruimveldt Secondary in their respective categories.

The competition saw participation from over 50 schools and children’s organisations originating from all 10 administrative regions. The competition was divided into six categories namely nursery, primary, secondary, other children’s organisations, regional and individual. Each category was tasked with designing their float to depict a specific theme. Celebration of People, Flora and Fauna, Industries, Festivals and the Regions were among the themes.

Smyth Street Nursery

spectively with their presentations of “Kaleidoscope”; “One People”, “One Nation Celebrating our Liquid Gold” and “Celebration of Our People, Their Journey to Guyana”.

Graham’s Hall Primary reigned supreme in the primary category with its “Guyana Arapaima” float. North Georgetown’s “Frolic in the sun”, St Anne’s “Pollination” and St Ambrose’s “Protection for your financial reputation” gained second, third and fourth place respectively.

South Ruimveldt Secondary came out on top in their category with their presentation of “Transcending Guyana’s Musical Legacy” while second place went to Tutorial High for “Creativity giving identity to society”. St John’s College with “Guyana the ultimate tourism destination” and Kingston Secondary’s “Recycling and Upcycling”

“Transcending Guyana’s Musical Legacy” South Ruimveldt Secondary students during the Children’s Road March on Saturday

walked away with first place for its “Protector of El Dorado, We Came First” in the nursery category.

Starters, Lodge and Head Start Nurseries came in second, third and fourth re-

received the third and fourth prizes.

The other children’s organisations category was won by the Hinterland Scholarship students who displayed “Celebration of

Graham’s Hall Primary’s float, “Guyana Arapaima”

our Culture”. Second place went to the National School of Dance for “Easter fest through the eyes of a child”.

Craft Production and Design and Open Doors Centre got third and fourth place respectively for “With Craft We Shall Celebrate, When Integrated Guyana Remains Great” and “Celebrating Our Cultures, Organisation and Festivals”.

Jamel Brooms copped the top spot in the individual category with “The World’s Beauty” while Oshay Roberts gained second for “Education Technology”. Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) came out on top of the regional category with “Celebration and Cooperation through Diversification and Protection”. Regions Two, Six and Four gained second, third, and fourth for their presentations of “From the Farm to the Pot”, “Rice Ah We Ting, 48 and Still Celebrating” and “Sustaining Development through Quality Education, Leadership Enterprise and Cooperation”. The winners of each category will receive cash prizes along with a trophy.

This year’s competition was once again sponsored

by Banks DIH with a dona-

tion in excess of $2 million.

The company has expressed elation at being able to collaborate with the Education

Ministry on such an event and noted that it was looking forward to joining forces with the Ministry again.

now, we are moving the vendors from the waterfront. We have 45 stalls – 21 big stalls, 24 small ones. Up to yesterday, we had meetings with some vendors for the smooth transition moving them from the waterfront to occupy those stalls on the tarmac,” Smith explained.

In giving this update, the Mayor indicated that the Mabaruma Town Council recognised the Kumaka market (waterfront) as “the hub, the business hub of this town.” In this regard, the Town Council is also working towards solid waste management in the area.

“We have started some garbage collection there, because before garbage disposal saw people just throwing their stuff all over the place and that’s one of the things we have been trying to manage,” Smith is quoted by the DPI as saying.

After Mabaruma became a town following the Local Government Elections in 2016, the Town Council undertook a number of projects, including the rehabilitation of the market tarmac.

Additionally, it has overseen the construction of bus sheds and the rehabilitation of several roads in the township.

14 news

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bunty Singh is the new Chutney King

T

he 2017 Chutney Queen, Vanita Willie was in the wee hours of Monday morning dethroned, following an exceptional performance by Berbician Bunty Singh who was crowned the new Guyana Chutney King. The competition was hosted at the Leonora Stynthetic Track, West Coast Demerara, which saw a small crowd cheering and supporting their favourite artistes.

The competition which got underway almost three hours after the schedule time to commence saw 10 chutney singers trying to impress the judges and the audience, in their attempt to convince the judges that they are the best in the business. The 2017 Queen was the last to perform but she failed to defend her crown.

Each contestant had a

The top four in the Chutney Monarch Competition with the newly crowned king in blue

maximum of 10 minutes to perform their tunes backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra. At the end, Bunty Singh with his tune, “Banwari, Poonwasie and de lokni” was adjudged the

winner of the competition.

Coming in second was another Berbician, Sasenarine Hitnarayan with “Guyanese Larki”, while the third position was taken by Steven Ramphal as he performed

Bandits invade New Amsterdam home

…escape with cash, jewellery

A

gang of five men, all armed with guns, invaded an Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam home.

Reports are the men at about 11:35h on Sunday, invaded the Lot 767 Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam home which also houses a business in the lower flat.

The home/business is owned by 44-year-old Ameer Bacchus and his 40-year-old wife Somawattie Bacchus, called “Samantha”.

Speaking with this publication, Somawattie Bacchus recalled that the family had just concluded a gathering when her brother left to take her brother-inlaw home.

According to the distraught woman, her brother returned shortly afterwards, and her husband went to open the gate for him. She further related she was seated in her kitchen when she heard a voice say, “tell she don’t move.”

Mrs Bacchus related that as she turned around she was the bandit with a gun

Somawattie Bacchus

to her husband’s head. She added that the gunman then lashed her husband in his head and he fell unconscious.

“Them start fuh kick he and then I ask why them beating he, why y’all don’t take what ya’ll want and go… I bend down fuh help me husband and then the bandit start to kick me up in my face and back and asking for my bangle and the cash,” the still traumatised woman related.

She said that she then told her 14-year-old son to hand over the cash and jew-

ellery but after he complied, the gunmen were not satisfied with the booty.

“Them seh that them aint want dat alone that them want the money in the wardrobe,” the woman said, adding that she had no other valuables in the house.

This newspaper was told that there were three men in the house while two others kept watch outside.

Guyana Times was told that as the gunmen were robbing the family, the couple’s sister-in-law who lives in the house behind them returned home from work.

The woman said that as she walked passed her inlaws home, a masked gunman attempted to grabbed her, but she managed to run into her home and closed the door. An alarm was raised, and the men escaped before Police arrived.

This publication understands that the gunmen escaped with several cellular phones, a Samsung tablet, a total of $90,000 in cash and an estimated $200,000 in jewellery. An investigation has been launched.

GTT prepaid data customers can now roam at home rates

T

he data roaming experience of GTT customers has been enhanced with the ability to access and use mobile data at the same attractive rates charged at home.

In other words, prepaid customers will be able to data roam like if they are at home. The service is available in the Caribbean, the USA, Canada, Panama and Suriname.

The service went into effect on February 3, 2018, and can be experienced on all Cable & Wireless/LIME

Networks in the Caribbean and Panama, on bmobile in Trinidad, and Telesur in Suriname. For the USA, the partner network is ATT, and in Canada, customers can use either Bell or Telus.

GTT’s data roaming rates are extremely competitive and provide the added advantage of allowing customers to pay on demand.

This feature places control in the customers’ hands as they are able to control how much they spend.

To enable roaming access, customers must select

the network partners and dial *100*9#.

The recent launch is phase one of a proposed extensive project to remove barriers and make the roaming service more user friendly and accessible for all customers. Subsequent phases will see an expansion in the territories in which prepaid customers can access data roaming as well as improved rates for post-paid customers.

Customers are encouraged to log on to gtt.co.gy for more details.

“Mujhe Sangeet se Pyar Hai”.

Coming in fourth was Arijit Singh who sang “Wedding Story”. He was also named the best new comer and bagged an additional $100,000 to the already $200,000 he won for placing third. Bunty Singh will receive $800,000, Hitnarayan will collect $600,000 and Ramphal will bag $400,000.

However, after the announcement of the results, some were definitely not pleased with the judges’ de-

cision.

Some thought Ramphal would have stolen the show with his electrifying performance, showcasing the colours of the Golden Arrowhead but soon after, the focus was shifted to Bunty Singh whose stage performance was extraordinary.

Haresh Singh, a veteran in the game, took to the stage with an all Hindi chutney song titled, “Chutney Raja” but the crowd was unmoved. Another performer who took the stage by storm but did not place was Vicadi Singh who do his part with “Meet de Nanny”. While his stage performance was excellently crafted with props and dancers, the crowd just did not react.

The defending Champion put on a show with her tune, “Phool Basiya and She Husband”, but she too was not good enough to get the approval from the judges.

The panel of judges included dancer and choreographer, Roshini BoodhooPersaud; Pandit Aditya Persaud and Phoolkumarie.

Meanwhile, before the chutney competition got underway, several dance

troupes and dancers took to the stage to showcase their talents. First up, five young men and women went head to head in the individual category.

While some of the performances can be classified as too “vulgar”, the judges opted to go with the more traditional dance routines. After that showdown, Aneesa Narine was awarded the first place followed

by Razia Rafeek in the second spot and rounding off the top three was Richard Ramnarine.

The group dance routines were as electrifying as the individual pieces. At the end of the clash, the Berbice Delight dancers were victorious. In the second spot was The Versailles Dance Troup and copping the third place was the Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Troupe.

The show however, was given some flavour by the emcee of the evening, Joey Ganshaam who had the crowd in a frenzy for just being himself. The competition was sponsored by the Social Cohesion Ministry, through its Culture, Youth and Sport Department.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

Social Cohesion Ministry launches Mash band

Social Cohesion Minister, with responsibility for culture and sport, Dr George Norton as he inspects the Ministry’s costumes at the Mash band launching on Monday

T

he Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department on Monday launched its Mash band for the 2018 float parade at the ER Burrowes School of Arts.

Present at the event was Social Cohesion Minister, for responsibility with culture and sport, Dr George Norton.

Speaking to the small gathering, the Minister expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming celebrations for Guyana’s 48th Republic Anniversary.

“I’m looking forward to see what you have out there to display but not only that, I want to be a part of that which you will be displaying, and I’m looking forward to it,” he stated.

This year, the band,

which was designed by students of the ER Burrowes School of Arts, will be featuring approximately 300 revellers, including a king and a queen. The coordinator of the costumes, Volda Ramsammy, revealed that the band had a simple theme which highlighted the celebration of Guyana.

“We have decided to choose our theme based on our national theme, our subtheme is “celebrating republic 48”, but the reason I have decided to stick to such a simple theme is, because I want to focus and to emphasise on the importance of this celebration,” she said.

She added that the costumes featured the national colours of Guyana. The king costume is a vivid representation of the Golden

Arrowhead and features national symbols such as the Victoria Regia Lily, the Canje Pheasant and the Cacique Crown.

Meanwhile, the queen costume was designed to complement the king. It features a giant hibiscus flower surrounded by local creatures like the hummingbird, which is very popular. It was designed with the intention of showcasing cooperativeness and celebration.

When all of these elements are put together, they depict cohesion among the people. The Social Cohesion, Culture and Sport Department will be displaying its float on Republic Day and is confident that it will capture the first prize in the costume category this year.

news

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tuesDAY, February 20, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Father of 6 fined for Pensioner slapped with narco trafficking narco trafficking charge

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54-year-old of Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was on Monday fined when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for being in possession of a small quantity of cannabis.

Nicholas Caesar admitted that he had the illegal substance in his possession when Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan read the charge to him.

The charge alleged that

on February 15, 2018, at Wismar, Linden, he had 4.4 grams of cannabis.

Caesar, a father six, pleaded for leniency stating that he is sorry for what he had done and would not repeat his actions.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield revealed that Police were at the time of the discovery conducting a raid when they swooped down on Caesar’s home.

The narcotics were reportedly found in the upper

flat of the defendant’s home in his bedroom. Caesar reportedly told Police that the cannabis did not belong to him but that it was given to him by a friend to keep.

He was arrested and later charged with the present offence.

Magistrate McLennan fined the accused $10,000 along with eight weeks of community service. A failure to pay the fine will result in him serving five weeks imprisonment.

A

pensioner who reportedly told Police that she sells narcotics in order to pay her bills, found herself before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday morning.

Bernadette Robertson, 65, of Lot 90 Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and had the charge of possession read to her.

The charge alleged that on February 15, 2018, at her residence, she was found

with 94.2 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted, revealing that the pensioner took a Police Constable to the kitchen of her home where the illicit substance was found.

She reportedly told him when questioned that she sells cannabis to pay her bills.

As such, Magistrate McLennan remanded her to prison and she will return to court on March 13, 2018 at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

New GWI office at Parika to serve 30,000 customers

GWI head, Dr Richard Van West-Charles addressing the gathering at the launching of the new suboffice in Parika, East Bank Essequibo

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) recently launched its second sub-office in Region

Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) at the Lotus Mall in Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

According to head of the utility company, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, the new building was constructed

GFC working to recover...

The decision to take back the forest concessions of BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc was due to their failure to keep several commitments to submit information about its operations in Guyana, to settle its $80 million arrears and submit a letter of commitment from the new partner.

The five joint ventures that BaiShanLin had illegally entered into with local companies were also revoked and the lands seized.

Some of the lands were in Berbice and in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Meanwhile, GFC’s Commissioner James Singh noted that while the company is no longer operating in Guyana, they are still actively pursuing them to get their monies.

China Development Bank (CDB), which had loaned BaiShanLin about US$70 million, had asked Guyana not to give out lands once held by BaiShanLin. In relation to this, Dow made it clear that the CDB has no standing with the GFC since they are not the concessionaires.

She added that the GFC still owns the Chinese company’s concessions and that a decision would be made with regard to it very soon.

Illegal logging

Over the weekend, there were reports that BaiShanLin was illegal-

ly operating in the Upper Berbice River area but the GFC’s Commissioner shot down those reports.

According to the report, about three weeks ago, GFC employees stopped trucks at Waico, bearing the logo of BaiShanLin and found Wamara logs on it. The logs were reportedly traced to the disgraced company.

“As far as the GFC is aware, BaiShanLin is not engaged in any forestry activities… the report made reference in illegal harvesting and it was a concession previously owned in the BaiShanLin. Yes, we have been investigating some illegal logging happening there but it is not associated with BaiShanLin,” Singh explained.

“To the best of our knowledge it may be some nearby associations or stakeholders and we are currently investigating that. We can determine who is that because we have the chain of custody verification, the log tagging system so I would expect that we will be in a position to identify who it was,” he added.

He promised to disclose the name of the person associated with illegally logging in the area within the next month after they would have completed their preliminary investigation.

In September 2016, the GFC had repossessed con-

From page 10

cessions held by BaiShanLin International Forest Development Inc (BIFDI), since it failed to deliver on commitments.

When the company started its operations locally in 2007, it had also committed under its investment agreement to establish a US$100 million wood processing plant in order to engage in value added exports – this too was never built.

The Commission said during the meeting, company representatives had indicated that BaiShanLin suffered financial constraints, which affected the establishing of the wood processing facility, and the company was engaging a new partner that would contribute significantly to its investment in Guyana.

The GFC Board said it was, at the time, assured of the financial strength of the new partner, who had committed to pay off the debt owed by the company to the Commission. However, that was not done.

The GRA in April of 2016 had seized a Lexus SUV, PRR 2888, and a Nissan minivan, PRR 3888, from the Chinese logging company after it had failed to pay import taxes for the two luxury vehicles.

BaiShanLin reportedly closed its operations in Guyana in September of 2016.

with the intention of serving 30,000 customers, not just within the region but from neighbouring areas.

“This opens a gateway to Region Two, Leguan, Wakenaam, to Bartica, which allows us to be in constant communication, where we are looking at various options whereby customers can pay their bills, check their bills and their balances and report to us,” he is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

Also speaking at the launching of the new office was the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO),

Jennifer Ferriera-Dougall, who related that the new office will eliminate the unnecessary journey that customers have to take to the Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara branch, in order to have their bills paid. As such, their bills will be paid on time and this will reduce the number of disconnections in the future.

The construction of this new branch will also aid in the retrieval of outstanding revenues, ensure revenues are collected on time and provide better services to their customers.

There have been discussions about GWI partnering

with the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) so as to give customers in Parika the opportunity to pay their utility bills online via the Mobile Money app. There are also plans to construct another branch in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) in the latter part of 2018.

The Managing Director also related that the company will work in the future to address the concerns of their customers, as it relates to the effectiveness of meters, leakages and urges them to report any instances where vandalism may arise.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

Regional

Mexico special agents found Aircraft debris and human remains dead after cartel kidnapping found off Andros in The Bahamas

Alfonso Hernández (left) and Octavio Martínez had joined the agency less than a year ago

F

orensic experts in Mexico say human remains found last week are those of two special agents kidnapped by armed men earlier this month. Octavio Martínez and Alfonso Hernández were members of Mexico’s Criminal Investigation Agency, a unit created in 2013 to fight organised

crime.

A week after their disappearance, they were shown in a video posted on YouTube surrounded by armed men.

They were forced to read a statement critical of their agency at gunpoint.

The armed men appearing in the video are believed to be members of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, al-

though their identity has not been independently verified.

Mexico’s Attorney General Raul Cervantes recently declared it the nation’s largest criminal organisation and it has been blamed for a series of attacks on Mexican security forces and public officials.

The two agents went missing on February 5 while they were on leave attending a christening in Nayarit state, western Mexico.

Martínez, a 26-year-old lawyer, and Hernández, a 28-year-old criminologist, had joined the agency less than a year ago.

Their bodies were found in a car in the city of Xalisco.

So far no one has been arrested in connection with their killing. Analysts say organised crime is on the rise in Mexico. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Protests in Trinidad capital after man killed in shootout with Police

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Police Officer late in the wee hours of this morning triggered protests by East Port of Spain residents who burned debris and blocked major roads which leading into the capital.

But by midday, lawmen said they had brought the situation under control. The disturbances were prompted by what the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) described in a statement this morning as a “Police involved shooting incident” around 03:45h.

Dead is 25-year-old Akile “Christmas” James.

According to Police, members of the Inter-Agency Task Force attempted to execute a search warrant for firearms and ammunition on premises located at Calvary Hill, when they were fired upon by the occupant of the house, James.

“There was a return of

The Police shooting of this man, Akile “Christmas” James, triggered the protests. Some residents burned debris in the streets to block roads

gunfire and the suspect was struck,” the statement said, adding that the young man was taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 04:20h. “A Glock 45 pistol and seven rounds of ammunition were recovered at the scene.”

Police and Army personnel had to go into action from around 06:00h, to quell the disturbances that ensued, and to remove debris that had been strewn across several streets.

The TTPS said there remains a Police-Army presence in the areas which were affected by the disturbances, and Police have also increased patrols along the Lady Young Road, Morvant and the Beetham Highway.

Head of the Port of Spain Division, Acting Senior Superintendent Floris Hodge-Griffith said charges will be laid against anyone who breached the law in the events this [Monday] morning. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

A

little over a month since a fatal plane crash in shallow water off Andros in The Bahamas that killed six Bahamians, including the pilot, independent divers have found what appears to be aircraft debris, including an engine and human remains in of what’s left of the wreckage.

A citizen’s video posted on social media, shot on February 14 and posted on February 16, shows several divers over three separate videos, combing the shallow

waters off of Mastic Point, North Andros.

Whether or not this is indeed the same Piper Aztec II plane, tail #: N-62769 that crashed on January 17 remains to be determined.

However, the area was once combed by Bahamian investigators previously and their search at that time showed no sign of the bulk of the plane.

The provider of the video footage told Caribbean News Now that this area was combed before, and one of the divers in the video

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Leaders of the main parties in the Democratic Unity coalition have for days been considering whether to participate or not in the vote.

Some believe a boycott is a self-destructive free pass for Maduro, while others say participation would be doomed to failure and merely legitimate his “dictatorship.”

The coalition was due to meet at 16:00h (2000 GMT) on Monday, politicians said.

One senior member of the Justice First party told Reuters it would formalise there a decision to boycott the vote in protest at unfair conditions.

Another major Opposition party, Popular Will, led by protest leader Leopoldo Lopez, who is under house arrest, has already unilaterally announced it will not take part in the election.

The Opposition’s two most popular figures – Lopez and former governor Henrique Capriles – are both prohibited from standing. Lopez is detained on charges of stirring violence during anti-Maduro protests in 2014, while Capriles has been accused of “administrative irregularities” while governor of Miranda state.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Now)

Barbados ratifies WTO agreement on trade facilitation

B

arbados has ratified the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the first major agreement concluded by all members of the WTO since the establishment of that body in 1995.

The instrument of ratification was formally handed over by Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations and other international organisations, Bentley Gibbs, to Secretary General of the WTO Robert Azevedo in Geneva, Switzerland recently.

The TFA contains provisions to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods at the border, with the aim of improving transparency in transactions and reducing the scope for corruption.

The Barbados Government said in a statement the implementation of the Agreement would enable the country to remedy exist-

WTO Secretary General Robert Azevedo (left) and Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations, Bentley Gibbs, after the agreement was signed

ing barriers to trade and investment facilitation and redound to the benefit of the local business community.

The ratification of the TFA is another step in Barbados’ development of a national trade facilitation roadmap to identify priority reform measures to be mapped to donor interest ar-

eas.

The full implementation of the TFA is estimated to reduce global trade costs.

Furthermore, the TFA is forecast to add up to 2.7 per cent a year to world export growth and more than 0.5 per cent a year to world GDP growth by 2030. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

BVI implements new application process for entry permits

Venezuela’s Opposition coalition likely to boycott presidential vote

eaders of Venezuela’s opposition coalition appeared likely on Monday to decide on a boycott of the April presidential election, believing authorities have rigged it for President Nicolás Maduro and his ruling socialists.

Maduro, the 55-year-old successor of Hugo Chávez, is seeking re-election in the April 22 vote despite his unpopularity and a crushing economic crisis. But critics say the election is a farce, with Maduro’s main rivals barred from standing and a compliant election body bound to favour the socialists.

worked with the authorities on the days after the crash.

Chief investigator, Delvin Major, said that the plane’s engine is of significant value to the investigation. From there they can determine what happened on the plane and conduct forensic studies to determine if it was engine failure or something other. Apart from having the plane engine, no further search or international assistance from the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would be needed. (Excerpt from Caribbean News

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he Government of the British Virgin Islands is in the process of testing a new online application process for entry permits.

Premier, Dr Orlando Smith, in a recent announcement said while the online platform is being created, employers are now able to send work permit applications directly to immigration.

“As of Monday, February 19, any compa-

ny can have their work permits processed for the employees by having all the documents for the employees sent from the company directly to the Immigration Department. This would also apply for the owners or managers of companies,” Smith said.

“We expect this to be up and running within the next few weeks… This will add to the efficiency of the application process at the Immigration Department,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Premier said organisations or persons responsible for any number of volunteers are now required to submit volunteer applications to the facility based in the capital of Road Town.

Persons must write to the Chief Immigration Officer indicating the name of the parent organisation, when persons are expected to arrive in the territory, and how long they plan to stay, the Premier said.

“This request will then be facilitated by the Immigration Department,” he added.

The changes are being rolled out to improve the Immigration process which has been described as chronically cumbersome.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Mozambique rubbish dump collapse 'kills at least 17' people

Philippines: HIV cases up 3147% in 10 years

N

Rescue workers clear rubbish as they continue to search for survivors. Authorities have warned that a number of residents remain unaccounted for

A

t least 17 people have been killed in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, and many more injured after a huge mound of rubbish collapsed, officials say. The pile of waste, some 15 metres (49 feet) high, gave way in heavy rains at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Monday.

The dump is known to be home to some of the city's

poorest residents, who build makeshift camps amid the rubbish. Five homes on the edge were also crushed in the disaster. Rescue workers are continuing to search for survivors.

A spokesman for the emergency services, Leonilde Pelembe, warned it was likely there were more victims under the waste. "The information we received from local author-

ities is that the number of people living in those houses exceeds the number of deaths recorded," Pelembe said.

The Hulene district of Maputo is one of the most deprived parts of the capital. Many, including children, have little choice but to make their homes either on or next to the dump.

The dump not only provides them with food, but

also goods to sell, our correspondent Jose Tembe explains. The authorities said they had previously asked residents in the area to leave because their homes were constructed illegally, Reuters news agency reports.

The city of Maputo has experienced heavy rainfall since Sunday, which has damaged homes and flooded roads. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Iran cannot confirm missing plane found, freezing temperatures hamper search

T

he wreckage of an Iranian plane that crashed with 65 people on board was found in central Iran, state media said on Monday, but aviation authorities could not confirm the report.

The Aseman Airlines flight from Tehran disappeared from radar screens on Sunday 50 minutes into its journey to the

southwestern city of Yasuj. It is believed to have gone down in a mountainous area near the town of Semirom.

No one is expected to have survived.

The Deputy Governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province was quoted by state media as saying the wreckage was found near Dengezlu city, in Semirom county, in Isfahan

province.

A few minutes later, Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation said it could not confirm the wreckage had been discovered.

“We are facing a total enigma. We do not know anything about the crash,” Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi was quoted as saying by

Tasnim news agency shortly after his arrival in Semirom.

Iran asked European countries and China to help the search with satellite imagery, Iranian Space Agency deputy head Mojtaba Saradeghi was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency. Glacial temperatures and mountainous terrain are hampering rescue teams. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Terracotta theft: Chinese anger over stolen warrior thumb

C

hinese authorities have demanded "severe punishment" for a man who allegedly stole the thumb of a terracotta warrior statue on display in the US, Chinese state media report.

The 2000-year-old statue, worth US$4.5 million (£3.2 million), is one of 10 on loan to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. Last week, Michael Rohana was charged with theft and concealment of a major artwork, and later released on bail.

The Terracotta Army is one of China's most important archaeological finds.

According to court documents, Rohana, 24, was attending an Ugly Sweater Party at the Franklin Institute on December 21, 2017, when he made his way into the Terracotta Warriors exhibit, which was then closed.

Rohana allegedly used a mobile phone as a torch and took a selfie with one of the warriors, according to Chinese State media Xinhua, quoting the FBI. He then allegedly put his hand on the left hand of the statue and appeared to break something off from it. He pocketed

17

The thumb was removed from a warrior on display in Philadelphia

the item and left.

Museum staff noticed the missing thumb on January 8 and the FBI later traced it to

Rohana. He later admitted that he had kept the thumb in a desk drawer.

On Monday, the direc-

tor of the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Centre, the Government-run organisation which loaned the statues out, "strongly condemned" the Franklin Institute for being "careless" with the statues, CCTV reported.

Wu said the centre would be sending two experts to the US to assess the damage and repair the statue with the recovered thumb. There would be a claim for compensation, he added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ew HIV cases continued to increase in the Philippines in 2017, with a 3147 per cent surge since 2007, according to an Al Jazeera analysis of the latest data published by the country's health agency, bucking a downward trend worldwide.

In a February 2018 report, the Philippine Department of Health said 11,103 new cases were reported in 2017, up 19.85 per cent from the 9,264 cases in 2016.

Compared with the 342 HIV infections reported in 2007, the 2017 figure is 3,147 per cent higher.

In contrast, new HIV cases reported worldwide had gone down, from 2.1 million in 2015 to 1.8 million in 2016, according to the latest figures provided by the World Health Organisation and the UN

AIDS Programme.

The latest report from the Philippines comes after President Rodrigo Duterte was recently quoted as saying that Filipinos should follow the Government's reproductive health programme, but avoid using condoms because "it is not satisfying."

The health department said of the new cases in 2017, more than 95 per cent involved male transmission. A total of 38 cases involved minors under 15 years old.

With a population of more than 100 million, the number of HIV cases in the Philippines remains low. But in terms of percentage increase, the UN said in August 2017 the country has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region in recent years. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

WHO warns over measles immunisation rates as cases rise 400% across Europe

M

easles cases have soared across Europe over the last year, with large outbreaks affecting one in four countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) which is concerned by low rates of immunisation against the disease.

WHO Europe says there has been a 400 per cent increase during 2017, with more than 21,000 cases and 35 deaths. That will be a major disappointment following the record low in 2016, when there were just 5,273 cases in Europe.

Measles can kill or cause long-term damage. One in every thousand children affected develops encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain and can lead to deafness or learning difficulties.

Measles is targeted for elimination around the world, because of the efficacy of the vaccine, but it has been bedevilled by regular

outbreaks. WHO said there were large outbreaks last year in 15 of the 53 countries in the European region.

Romania was worst affected with 5562 cases, followed by Italy with 5006 and Ukraine with 4767.

Immunisation in those countries has hit a number of problems in recent years.

There have been declines in overall routine immunisation coverage, consistently low coverage among some marginalised groups, interruptions in vaccine supply or underperforming disease surveillance systems.

Greece (967), Germany (927), Serbia (702), Tajikistan (649), France (520), the Russian Federation (408), Belgium (369), the United Kingdom (282), Bulgaria (167), Spain (152), Czechia (146) and Switzerland (105) also experienced large outbreaks, many of which were in decline by the close of 2017. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Iran and India sign deal to deepen relations

I

ran and India have inked nine agreements, including leasing part of the Iranian port of Chabahar to an Indian company, after "substantive" bilateral talks between the Indian prime minister and the Iranian president in New Delhi.

"We had detailed discussions on ways to further deepen cooperation between India and Iran," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Saturday, after "fruitful" talks with President Hassan Rouhani.

A joint statement de-

scribed the Chabahar Port, which is being developed with funding from India, as a "golden gateway" that will help in reaching out to land-locked Afghanistan and central Asia.

During the joint press conference, Rouhani spoke on the importance of rail links from Chabahar to Zahedan, near the Afghan border.

Last year, New Delhi successfully sent shipments of wheat assistance to Afghanistan through Chabahar Port, bypassing archrival, Pakistan. Islamabad does not allow New Delhi to

President Hassan Rouhani's three-day trip was the first by an Iranian President in 10 years

use its land route to reach Afghanistan. "Chabahar offers India connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Along with Bandar Abbas port, it also offers India a

means of multimodal connectivity all the way to Europe," said Manoj Joshi, senior analyst at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), a thinktank based in New Delhi.

"This enables India to by-

pass the Pakistan blockade and play a significant role in Central Asia and Afghanistan.

It also helps to keep Pakistan off-balance with regard to India," Joshi told Al Jazeera.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, February 20, 2018

ARCHIE

Instability will keep you on your toes. Whether it’s you (March 21showing emotional tendenApril 19) cies or someone else, you’ll find it difficult to move forward without redoing or revising your plans.

ARIES

Check to see who is and TAURUS who isn’t on your side. Know (April 20- your allies, but understand May 20) your opponents. Having a broad understanding of your situation will help you find a solution.

dilbert

TODAY’S WORD — FEARSOME (FEARSOME: FEER-sum: Capable of causing fear.)

Average mark 34 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 49 or more words in FEARSOME? The list will be published today.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — TENSILE

Stay ahead of the competiGEMINI (May 21- tion. In both your personal and June 20) professional endeavours, keeping two steps ahead will help you outmanoeuvre anyone who opposes you. Don’t discuss personal matters openly.

Don’t jump into something because someone ap(June 21- plies pressure. It’s OK to be July 22) different, because it will encourage you to build greater confidence and strength.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t do anything blindLEO folded when it comes to your (July 23- personal or professional staAug. 22) tus. Get all the facts and figures, and know what you want and what you are getting into.

A business trip, meeting or VIRGO educational pursuits are high(Aug. 23lighted. You’ll be offered a lot Sept. 22) of information. Take notes to avoid any confusion. Personal disruptions will cloud your mind.

Calvin and Hobbes

Iron out any kinks when it LIBRA (Sept. 23- comes to home improvements Oct. 23) or personal relationships.

Fewer demands and more compromises will help bring you closer to an agreement.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — UNTAMED

SUDOKU

Opposition will change SAGITTARIUS the way you think and act.

(Nov. 23Question what’s being said Dec. 21) and respond accordingly, but don’t lose sight of what it is you really want to see unfold.

(UNTAMED: un-TAMED: Wild; uncontrolled.)

Average mark 26 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 33 or more words in UNTAMED? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — SPECIOUS scope scup soup souse spice spies spouse peso pious poise pose posies posse

puce puss epic epos cope copies copse coup coupe cusp issue opus

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Use your charm to conSCORPIO vince others to join you in (Oct. 24whatever you pursue. Your Nov. 22) enthusiasm and innovative way of presenting your capabilities will encourage longterm success.

solution for Puzzle

A change of plans will CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- take you by surprise. Don’t Jan. 19) leave any detail unattended to if you want to avoid an unexpected twist of fate. Trust in your intuition, not in what others say or do.

Change can be good, as AQUARIUS long as you are reasonable (Jan. 20and don’t overdo, overspend Feb. 19) or overreact. Know what you want and only spend what you have.

PISCES Know your limitations (Feb. 20- and concentrate on your March 20) strengths. A chance to excel is within reach if you can curb your emotions and temper. Gravitate toward those willing to help.

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

19

ESPN Cricinfo Awards 2017…

Lewis wins best T20 knock …Smith, Lyon, Knight, Fakhar, Amir cash in

S

teven Smith, Nathan Lyon, Heather Knight, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Amir are among the winners of the ESPNcricinfo Awards for the best performances in cricket in 2017.

Smith's battling 109 in Australia's unexpected win in Pune won for best Test batting performance, beating his eight-and-a-half-hour 141 not out at the Gabba, and Shai Hope's match-winning final-innings century in Headingley, among other performances.

Lyon's 8 for 50 was picked for the Test bowling award, over R Ashwin's 6 for 41 in the same Test, in Bengaluru.

Knight, the England Women captain, who led her side to the World Cup title (and wins in 11 matches out of 15 overall in the year), won the Captain of the Year award over Smith, Virat Kohli and Sarfraz Ahmed.

It was the first time women were nominated in the category.

Both ODI awards went to Champions Trophy winners Pakistan - Zaman's 114 not out, in just his fourth ODI, and Mohammad Amir's inspired spell of 3 for 16, both in the Champions Trophy final against India, were picked over Rohit Sharma's third career double-hundred and Rashid Khan's seven-for against West Indies.

Rashid, who was nominated three times this year, the most of any player, won

the Associate bowling performance of the year for that 7 for 18.

The T20I batting award went to Evin Lewis, who made 125 not out, the highest score in a T20I chase, in Kingston against India.

Yuzvendra Chahal was voted the T20I bowling winner for his 6 for 25 against England in Bengaluru.

This is the 11th edition of the ESPNcricinfo Awards, where a jury of former players - among them Ian Chappell, Courtney Walsh, Ramiz Raja, Daryll Cullinan, Ajit Agarkar and Mark Nicholas - and ESPNcricinfo's senior editors vote on the best per-

formances of the previous year.

Kuldeep Yadav was adjudged Debutant of the year.

Yadav, whose first international wicket was David Warner, in the Dharamsala Test, ended the year with 43 international wickets at 22.18, well ahead of his nearest spin rival on the shortlist, Pakistan legspinner Shadab Khan, who took 34 wickets at 25.35.

The Associate batting award went to Kyle Coetzer for his century in Scotland's 26-run win over Zimbabwe, their first ODI win over a Full Member.

The 2017 Women's World

Cup was a landmark event in terms of viewership and fast-paced action, and the winning performances in the awards came in the two most watched games Harmanpreet Kaur's ballistic 171 not out from India's semi-final against Australia, and Anya Shrubsole's title-clinching 6 for 46 for England against India in the final.

Previous

Steve Smith rose to the occasion when it mattered the most in 2017

The breathtaking innings from Evin Lewis in Jamaica came off just 62 balls with six fours and 12 sixes

Heather Knight led England to 11 wins in 2017 including the World Cup final at Lord’s

ESPNcricinfo awards winners have included Mitchell Johnson, Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga (three awards apiece), and Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag, Shahid Afridi, Stuart Broad and Virat Kohli (two each).

(ESPN Cricinfo)

Man City knocked out

by Wigan

M

anchester City were sensationally knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Wigan Athletic who beat the 10-man Premier League leaders 1-0 on Monday in a stunning fifth round upset with a late goal by their talisman Will Grigg.

On a magical night in the world’s oldest cup competition, Wigan’s folk hero Grigg secured one of the biggest shocks by slotting the ball home from the edge of the box in the 79th minute after a misjudgement by City substitute Kyle Walker.

The now-familiar chants of ‘Will Grigg’s

on Fire’, a hit download two years ago, echoed around the DW Stadium.

The visitors had played the entire second half with 10 men after their midfielder Fabian Delph was sent off in the 45th minute for a sliding challenge on Max Power.

The defeat was City’s third of the season and ended their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this campaign.

Their manager Pep Guardiola said his expensively-assembled side had done everything but paid the price for one mistake. (BBC Sport)

Will Grigg’s winner in the 79th minute sent Manchester City, the Premier League leaders packing

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

Heywood still "not

By Akeem Greene

out of the woods"

…calls it quits on blossoming rugby career

S

unday November 26, 2017, will be a day long etched in the memory of 21 year-old Abioce Heywood. Why? It was the day she suffered a traumatic head injury while on national duty in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Championship in Mexico City. Two months later, the ripple effects of the harrowing experience still hamper the player.

When <<Guyana Times Sport>> visited the player at her Diary, West Bank Demerara residence recently she gave an emotional recount of what transpired, well at least what she could remember.

The female ruggers led

by Heywood were in rampant form in the tournament defeating Jamaica 19-12 and Dominican Republic 1712; drawing with Bermuda 7-7 but suffered defeats at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago (5-12) and eventual winners Mexico (12-17).

The tragedy struck in the Dominican Republic game, she revealed, “The first hit I got when I played against Jamaica and I felt traumatized but because my team was depending on me and my country I kept on going; I got hit again [against Dominican Republic], while this girl was going for the try and after than I went blank and I did not know anything.”

When lights returned for Guyana Defence Force (GDF) player she was a patient of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where team physiotherapist Abiola Blair also

of the GDF and Manager Petal Adams who is also the General Secretary of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) were present.

“Abiloa told me I got hit in my head and when I woke up the next day but I could not remember the indecent, the doctors kept asking me stuff because they expected that I lost my long term memory but it was not of such.”

It is understood, the final costs for Heywood’s hospitalisation far exceeded the total insurance GRFU had as it came in the in vicinity of some $200,000 Pesos (1USD = 17 Pesos) which was covered by the Rugby international body and will be refunded by the local body with the assistance of the government.

Upon arrival home in early December, through the funding of National Sports Commission (NSC) she became of a patient of Neurosurgeon, Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi to assist her recovery which she stated has not been easy since she has been suffering from constant headaches.

“I did the scan and everything was normal but the doctor said whereby I am having these headaches is because the small tissues in the brain which the scan cannot pick up but only a micro scope; I still have the headaches but not much like before when I came from Mexico; The doctors have been advising I just rest and ensure I take my pills.”

After just two years in the sport, the former national footballer further re-

Abioce Heywood and her mother Sheryl Adoulph at their home in Dairy

vealed she will no longer suit up for country or club.

“I don’t think I will go ahead with rugby anymore because it’s been difficult for me, it is really hard because I really love the game but they say who feels it knows it but I will still be there but I will be off the field, no more games.”

turned nobody has come to check on me.”

“We need to look out for women in sports because we can go somewhere; I know while in Mexico we had t h e

championship but some people were not confident in us.”

Questioned on her view of insurance policy for players she vented “They [GRFU] need to get that organised and sorted out because being there it was really messed up, I was there depending on them and there were just back and forth and I was there in the middle, I think they need to better organise these insurances for all athletes.”

“I was really scared because I was thinking that when I came home if I still would remember my family and that was scary.”

Trusting in God

Mother Sheryl Adoulph she said was most shocked at hearing of her daughters’ injury but is trusting in God she makes a full recovery. “ I can-

GRFU dropping the ball

With eyes filled with tears, the player questioned why “no one from the union has come to see me, coach [Theodore Henry] was encouraging me in the tournament that I am the play maker but since I have r e -

She was good as an attacking player and as a defensive

not e x plain it fully but it was like I was in another world by myself it really shocked me to know m y

daughter leave here to represent the country and get the news she was unconscious, she is strong and I know she will make it.”

She added, “I am scared but I am trusting in God that everything will be well with her and that in the end she will not have to go through any long term fatigue, with God all things are possible and he is going to work out things out for us.”

Not being able to be at her daughters’ bed side, Adoulph explained she was quit perturbed over the situation and is still searching for some answers.

“They said they have two females already [in Mexico] and I told them two females are not Aboice mom, I’m her mother and I am supposed to be there.”

“I was annoyed over the whole situation how it happened because she didn’t leave by herself to go to Mexico she was taken there by the team and got injured.

Up to now we have not seen the CT scan in Mexico to know the true cause and effect of her injuries.”

Next month, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Soldier stated she will return to work but explained that the Chief of Staff who has been giving immense support has given her time off from doing strenuous exercises.

It is expected that in three years she will make the complete recovery, in the interim she explained simple eventualities such as usage of public transportation and loud noises will be the new battles she has to tackle.

Khan spins web around Zimbabwe F

Rashid Khan finished the series with 16 wickets at an average of 7.93

ifties from Javed Ahmadi and Rahmat Shah, and the allround brilliance of Rashid Khan, powered Afghanistan to a 4-1 series win in Sharjah.

Their margin of victory - 146 runs - was their second highest in ODI cricket. Their biggest had come in this series as well, in the first game.

After opting to bat, Afghanistan had a steady start with Ahmadi and Rahmat putting on 129 for the second wicket following the early dismissal of Mohammad Shahzad.

Their partnership contributed 54% of Afghanistan's total.

Ahmadi was particularly fluent against spin, scoring 55 runs off 53 balls. Rahmat hit Chisoro for 30 runs off 23 balls but Sikandar Raza had

him slicing a catch to longoff for 59. Rahmat ended the series as the top-scorer with 272 runs in four innings at an average of 68. Three overs later, Ahmadi was run out for 76 off 87 balls. From 142 for 1, Afghanistan slumped to 177 for 7. Rashid's 29-ball 43, though, hauled the team to 241 for 9.

In reply, Zimbabwe collapsed to 95 all out in 32.1 overs with only two of their batsmen passing 20. Rashid took 3 for 13 to finish as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 16 wickets, at an outstanding average of 7.93.

Brendan Taylor (27) and Craig Ervine (34) rebuilt the chase briefly with a 46-run stand, before Zimbabwe imploded. They lost their last eight wickets for 23 runs with 16-year old Mujeeb Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Nabi, and Rashid sharing the spoils.

Rashid took three wickets in six balls to wrap up the tail.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

– Afghanistan complete 4-1 series win

SCOREBOARD

Afghanistan Innings (50 overs maximum) Mohammad Shahzad† c Waller b Muzarabani 2 Javed Ahmadi run out (Chisoro) 76 Rahmat Shah c Ervine b Sikandar Raza 59 Samiullah Shenwari c †Taylor b Chatara 5 Asghar Stanikzai* st †Taylor b Cremer 2 Nasir Jamal c Cremer b Sikandar Raza 7 Mohammad Nabi c Ervine b Chisoro 9 Sharafuddin Ashraf c Sikandar Raza b Chatara 21 Rashid Khan c Musakanda b Muzarabani 43 Mujeeb Ur Rahman not out 1 Extras (lb-6, w-10) 16 Total (For 9 wickets; 50 Overs) 241 Did not bat: Shapoor Zadran Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Mohammad Shahzad, 5.4 ov), 2-142 (Rahmat Shah, 28.2 ov), 3-148 (Javed Ahmadi, 31.3 ov), 4-150 (Asghar Stanikzai, 33.3 ov), 5-162 (Nasir Jamal, 36.5 ov), 6-163 (Samiullah Shenwari, 38.3 ov), 7-177 (Mohammad Nabi, 42.5 ov), 8-228 (Sharafuddin Ashraf, 48.6 ov), 9-241 (Rashid Khan, 49.6 ov) Bowling Chatara 9-1-42-2 (w-3), Muzarabani 10-1-44-2 (w-2), Cremer 10-0-42-1 (w-2), Chisoro 9-0-55-1 (w-2), Sikandar Raza 10-041-2 (w-1), Musakanda 2-0-11-0 Zimbabwe Innings (target: 242

runs from 50 overs) H Masakadza run out (Nasir Jamal) 7 TK Musakanda c Javed Ahmadi b Shapoor Zadran 11 BRM Taylor† lbw b Sharafuddin Ashraf 27 CR Ervine b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 34 Sikandar Raza b Sharafuddin Ashraf 1 MN Waller lbw b Mohammad Nabi 0 SF Mire c sub (Najibullah Zadran) b Mohammad Na bi 0 AG Cremer* lbw b Rashid Khan 8 TS Chisoro not out 0 TL Chatara c Rahmat Shah b Rashid Khan 0 B Muzarabani b Rashid Khan 0 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-1) 7 Total (All out; 32.1 Overs) 95 Fall of wickets: 1-17 (H Masakadza, 3.2 ov), 2-26 (TK Musakanda, 7.3 ov), 3-72 (BRM Taylor, 18.5 ov), 4-76 (Sikandar Raza, 20.4 ov), 5-77 (MN Waller, 21.5 ov), 6-77 (SF Mire, 21.6 ov), 7-95 (CR Ervine, 29.6 ov), 8-95 (AG Cremer, 30.2 ov), 9-95 (TL Chatara, 30.4 ov), 10-95 (B Muzarabani, 32.1 ov) Bowling Mujeeb Ur Rahman 8-1-28-1 (w1), Shapoor Zadran 5-3-7-1, Sharafuddin Ashraf 7-0-15-2, Mohammad Nabi 7-126-2, Rashid Khan 5.1-1-13-3

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21 GDA to host Caribbean Championships trials sports

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G

uyana Dart Association will be hosting a two-day trial to select players to represent the country at the Caribbean Championships scheduled for July in Trinidad and Tobago. The trials will be held on February 26 and 29 at the Malteenoes Sports Club,

Thomas Land.

According to GDA President, Sheik Yaseen the trials are only for affiliate members and will start promptly at 19:00h and players must make attendance on both days. Yassen expects the trials to be filled with heated competition

which is coming hot on the heels of the association’s national championships which were held earlier in February.

At the end of the championships reigning Caribbean single men’s champion Sudesh Fitzgerald was on ‘bulls eye” by sweeping

McKinnon elected GSSF President – outgoing President highlights frustrating challenges

T

he fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), was held at the Grand Costal Hotel on Friday February 16, 2018. Members were given the opportunity to discuss the activities and plans.

Outgoing President, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon reflected on her reign in her address to the member-

shooting in this country and take it to a whole new higher level.”

A short presentation was then made by Director of Sport, Christopher Jones on behalf of the GSSF to several junior and adult members. This presentation was to distribute several free membership cards to the Amateur Trapshooting Association, an international affiliate of the GSSF.

request for affiliation made to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) since 2014 for the Olympic sport of Archery is still pending. Despite numerous reminders and attempts over the past years to engage the GOA, together with facilitating the provision of documentation directly from the sport’s Swiss based governing body the World Archery Federation reconfirming Guyana’s

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most of the awards. The left-handed thrower won the singles champion, men’s doubles, most 180’s, highest check out (170 points), most hundreds (76), shortest game (11 Darts) which essentially catapulted him to the most valuable player title.

The newly-elected Board of Directors; from left: Aleemul Ali, Nicholas Hing, Mohamed Khan, Ryan McKinnon, Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon, Andrew Phang, David Dharry and Dr Pravesh Harry pose with Director of Sport, Christopher Jones (4th from left) after the initiation

ship “In 2014 I stood here amongst you to thank you for entrusting me to assume the Presidency of what promised to be a ground-breaking progressive sporting entity: The Guyana Sport Shooting Federation.

And here I am now expressing my gratitude to all of you for making the past four years absolutely phenomenal. Since 2014, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger and even more ground-breaking for Guyana.

That is because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding — our conviction that, together, we can change sport shooting and the concept of sport

The activities of a local GSSF affiliate, Archery Guyana, was also reported on. It was reported that Guyana’s Archery Developmental plan which was completed in 2017 was shared with the World Archery Federation, and this enabled Guyana to be shortlisted as eligible to receive “Level 1” equipment donations from the world governing body for the sport of Archery. Archery Guyana is in the process of finalizing the equipment selection and it is hoped that the processing for the kit to be sent to Guyana will occur in early 2018.

It was noted that it continues to be extremely disappointing that a

position as a legitimate affiliate there has been no positive response to the affiliation request.

Persaud-McKinnon also stated that information received from several key and supportive personalities in the national sports administrative circle pointed out that there were many concerns raised about the name of the GSSF and this was the hinderance to the affiliation to the local National Olympic Committee (NOC) which is the GOA. As such the local archers nevertheless took steps to once again start over the process for affiliation to the NOC, to move the sport forward in Guyana. This effort saw the estab-

lishment of an independent entity, duly registered as “Archery Guyana” which then made a fresh application/request for membership and affiliation to the GOA, but alas the silence continues to be deafening from the decision makers at the GOA. A silence which continues to stifle further development in Guyana, as it relates to one of the first Olympic sports (Archery) for which Guyana is known to be teeming with talent.

The evening, also featured the presentation of an Appreciation Award which was bestowed to Ryan McKinnon who received the GSSF’s Annual Appreciation Award from Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

Another significant aspect of the AGM was the motions which totaled six which were unanimously carried.

One of which generated a lot of discussion related to the GSSF’s name change. The motion was duly passed to effect a change in the name, from Guyana Sport Shooting Federation Inc., to Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation Inc. The Returning Officer appointed, Christopher Jones, duly declared the board and positions therein vacant and commenced elections for a new Board of Directors of the GSSF. Following the transparent electoral process, the members listed below were duly elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation for the term 2018 to 2020 as announced and ratified by the Returning Officer, Jones. Members of the Board of Directors for the period 2018-2020 are: President Ryan McKinnon, Vice-President Mohamed Khan, Secretary Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, Treasurer Ray Beharry, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer Andrew Phang, Chairman (Steel Challenge) Dr. Pravesh Harry, Chairman (Practical Shooting) David Dharry, Chairman (Archery) Nicholas Hing, Chairman (Trapshooting) Aleemul Ali and Internal Auditor Steve Ninvalle.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

GFSCA/ Nauth’s Motor Spares, Trophy Stall, Mike’s Pharmacy Competition…

Regal Masters' reign over Wellman continues

…Speedboat power away from Success

T

he dust finally settled on the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA) Nauth’s Motor Spares, Trophy Stall and Mike’s Pharmacy competition when Regal Masters, Speed Boat All Stars and Trophy Stall Angels emerged victorious at the Zeeburg Sports Club ground on Sunday.

After rain prevented the organizers from setting a date after the finalists were decided last December and then the February 11 washout at Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) the finals lived up to expectations of being highly competitive.

In the masters’ final, Regal Masters defended stoutly after they were bundled out for a paltry 105 from their 20 overs.

It was a bad batting display from the Campbellvillebased team after they were sent in under clear skies as only eventual Man of the Match, Mahesh Chunilall showed up. The attacking right handed opener held the Regal innings together with a well-composed knock of 52 with six huge sixes and four.

Wellman Masters bowled and fielded with good intent and had their opposition searching for answers after losing Eon Abel (01), Troy Kippins (00), Mohendra Arjune (03) and Eric Thomas

(01) early on. It took a late rally from Chunilall and Mahendra Hardyal with 18 not out (4x1; 6x1) to see the champs past the 100-run mark. David Harper also contributed a valuable 14 down the order.

At the half way stage of the gripping encounter, Wellman Masters were the happier team after Lester Thom claimed 2-5, Jagdesh Persaud 2-13 and Latchman Kallicharran 2-20 did the hard work of restricting Regal Masters.

However, with their backs against the wall Regal Masters bowlers turned up to the party to send Wellman Masters packing for 93 falling short by 12 runs.

Openers Vivekanand Dinesh, 17 (4x1; 6x1) and Basil Persaud (10) put Wellman Masters on course for the upset but after their dismissals they rest of the batting crumbled like dry biscuit.

Only Wayne Jones with a fighting 18 (4x1; 6x1) down the order and Greg De Franca 14 (6x2) made it to double figures as Wellman were bowled out for 93 in 19.3 overs. David Harper picked up 3-24, Kippins 2-9, Parsram Persaud 2-18 and Laurie Singh 2-20.

It is the fourth time in a final that Wellman surrendered to Regal who took away the top prize of the championship trophy and

$100,000. Greg De Franca was the Most Valuable Player of the Masters segment.

In the All Stars final which was building up to be a cracker, Speedboat proved to be superior over Success Sports Club with a six-wicket victory in the one-sided affair.

East Coast of Demerara champions, Success took first strike but were not allowed to score freely and were restricted to 92-9 from their 15 overs. Shilander

Trophy Stall Angels added another championship trophy to their already huge collection

Speedboat’s powerful batsman, Lennox “The Assassin” Marks on the go in his rapid innings

Red Bull launch new RB14 car R

The new machine that Red Bull will be looking to for a change in fortunes this season

ed Bull have launched the car they hope will return them to Formula 1 championship contention for the first time in five years.

The RB14 bucks the team's trend of recent years, by appearing well before the start of pre-season testing.

The team said launching "aggressively late" allowed more time to develop the car, but that they did not need to launch late this year.

Daniel Ricciardo will conduct initial testing at Silverstone on Monday.

Red Bull are the first major team to unveil their car, at the start of a week that will see the vast majority of the new machinery appear before the start of pre-season testing on 26 February.

Renault and Sauber are launching on Tuesday, world champion Mercedes and rivals Ferrari on Thursday and

Laurie Singh delivers during his measly spell

McLaren on Friday.

Red Bull came on strong towards the end of last season after a slow start, Max Verstappen winning two of the last six races.

The new car is a clear evolutionary development of last year's RB13 but features a number of technical innovations: Very narrow and aggressively undercut side pods - the bodywork beside and behind the driver - and unique aerodynamic airflow-shaping devices in front of them.

The rear wing also features endplates that cut in towards the centre of the car in a more angular and aggressive manner than is usual.

The car was launched with a temporary paint scheme, described by the team as "a special edition livery".

The race paintwork will be unveiled in testing at Spain's Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week. (BBC Sport)

Ramnauth made 12 while a healthy contribution of 26 extras propped up the total.

Man of the Match, Kishore Smith claimed three wickets while Mark Harold had two.

Speedboat then set about the run chase in a hurry and got to 93-4 in just 7.1 overs.

Lennox “The Assassin” Marks clobbered one four and four sixes in a top score of 34 not out while Greg Singh made 25 (1x4, 2x6) at the top of the order.

Rajesh Reddy of Farm Sports Club was named Most Valuable Player of the All Star Tournament.

In the female final, Trophy Stall Angels beat

Mike’s Wellwoman by eight wickets in fading light to cap a full day of softball cricket in the county side much to appreciation of the vocal crowd that witnessed it all. Mike’s Wellwoman batted first and managed 41-3 off their reduced quota of five overs with Matana Cambridge capturing 2-12.

Trophy Stall Angels responded with 44-2 in 3.1 overs. Ruth George made 18 and Cambridge who was named Player of the Match made 14. June Ogle of Trophy Stall was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the female tournament.

Game abandoned after 10 red, 8 yellow cards

B

Scenes of the brawl that stopped the game for 16 minutes

razilian footballers are traditionally known for their skill on the ball, but there wasn't much on show in the Bahia state championship match between Vitoria and Bahia.

After a feisty first half featuring six bookings and Denilson's goal for the hosts, things really got out of hand after the break.

Bahia were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute, and chaos ensued when Vinicius celebrated scoring it by dancing in front of the home supporters.

Both sets of players piled in, punches were thrown, and - after a delay of 16 minutes to restore order - the referee sent off eight players.

Three red cards were shown to Vitoria players, and five to Bahia players, with Vinicius and three substitutes among those dismissed.

The match continued, but when Vitoria had two further players dismissed 11 minutes from time, it was abandoned, with Bahia likely to be awarded a 3-0 victory. (BBC Sport)

5

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

swimmers make CARIFTA qualifying times

L

eon Seaton Jr, Lian Winter, Raekwon Noel, Aleka Persaud and Patrice Mahaica have managed to qualify for the CARIFTA Games Swimming which will be held in Kingston, Jamaica from March 30 to April 3.

Their qualification came after a productive meeting in the pool over the weekend when the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association held its Mashramani Long Course Meet at the National Aquatic Centre.

The ever improving Seaton, competing in the 13-14 age group clocked 25.35s in the 50m Freestyle to comfortably beat the qualifying time of 26.02s. His feat was even more astounding as it was the fastest better Andre Fowler who competed in the 18 and over and clocked 25.64s. His female equivalent was Lian Winter in the 200m Butterfly with a time of 3:04.90 better than the needed 03:08.7.

Noel who is an 11-12 competitor made the most qualifications.

The extremely talented natural athlete got ahead of the 2:20.4 in the 200m Freestyle to register 2:19.47 while in the 200 Individual Medley he clocked 2:41.53

mers it was a great start and they will now look to improve in areas such as turns to bring about more efficiency.

It is understood that consideration can be given to other swimmers based

Leon Seaton Jr (lane 4) swam the fastest 50m Freestyle in a time of 25.35s

which was enough to beat the 2:44.1 standard. In the 400m Freestyle the time needed was 5:11.4 and he easily stopped the clock at 4:56.17.

Also in the 11-12 group was Persaud who won all of her races at the event but only made the cut for 50m Freestyle in 30.12s just inside the 30.17s marker; she

also got the honours in the 50m Butterfly with 32.38s bettering the 32.57 required.

Another 11-12 competitor in Mahaica bettered the 34.75s by clocking 34.72s to head to Kingston for the 50m Backstroke.

In an invited comment senior national coach Sean Baksh expressed his de-

Hamilton, Reifer put Windies A in command at Sabina Park

J

ahmar Hamilton scored an even century and Raymon Reifer just missed out on one as the West Indies ‘A’

established a commanding lead on first innings over the England Lions on day two of their second unofficial Test at Sabina Park in

Raekwon Noel qualified for three events

light in the positive signs showed at the long course meet. He explained that though there were not the best signs shown by swim-

on ‘B’ standard but that decision is in the hands of GASA’s technical committee.

Bolt supports Aussie push for more sports in schools

SCOREBOARD England Lions 1st Innings KK Jennings* lbw b Cornwall 28 H Hameed st †Dowrich b Warrican 23 NRT Gubbins c Blackwood b Warrican 0 JM Clarke b Warrican 56 LS Livingstone b Warrican 0 AL Davies† c Brooks b Warrican 4 P Coughlin c Blackwood b Warrican 0 TS Roland-Jones c Cornwall b Warrican 4 MJ Leach b Cornwall 1 MS Crane c Cornwall b Warrican 12 JA Porter not out 0 Extras (b-7, lb-4, nb-5, w-1) 17 Total (All out; 57 Overs) 145 Fall of wickets: 1-56 (H Hameed, 18.3 ov), 2-56 (NRT Gubbins, 18.4 ov), 3-76 (KK Jennings, 21.6 ov), 4-77 (LS Livingstone, 24.6 ov), 5-85 (AL Davies, 32.2 ov), 6-85 (P Coughlin, 32.6 ov), 7-101 (TS Roland-Jones, 40.6 ov), 8-106 (MJ Leach, 45.5 ov), 9-144 (MS Crane, 54.6 ov), 10-145 (JM Clarke, 56.6 ov) Bowling Reifer 7-1-30-0, Joseph 5-0-16-0 (nb-2), Louis 4-1-10-0 (w-1), Cornwall 21-7-44-2 (nb2), Warrican 20-6-34-8 (nb-1) West Indies A 1st Innings JD Campbell c Hameed b Lea ch 47 KOA Powell* c & b Livingstone 59 J Blackwood c Jennings b Lea ch 6 SSJ Brooks b Livingstone 1

JN Hamilton c Clarke b RolandJones 100 SO Dowrich† c Gubbins b Lea ch 43 RA Reifer b Leach 95 R Cornwall b Leach 25 J Louis c Jennings b Coughlin 14 K Joseph not out 5 Extras (b-4, lb-10, nb-3, w-3) 20 Total (All Out; 110.4 Overs) 422 Fall of wickets: 1-72 (JD Campbell, 12.5 ov), 2-78 (J Blackwood, 14.5 ov), 3-87 (SSJ Brooks, 19.3 ov), 4-128 (KOA Powell, 31.3 ov), 4-159 (KOA Powell, 31.3 ov), 5-200 (Dowrich, 54.2 ov), 6-302 (Hamilton, 79.3 ov), 7-351 (Cornwall, 86.5 ov), 8-371 (Warrican, 92.4 ov), 9-410 (Louis, 105.3 ov), 10422 (Reifer, 110.4 ov) Bowling Porter 11-2-51-0, Roland-Jones 10-142-1, Livingstone 23-4-83-2, Leach 41.4-6-138-6, Crane 141-59-0, Coughlin 11-1-35-1 England Lions 2nd Innings KK Jennings not out 11 H Hameed not out 18 Extras (lb-1, nb-4) 5 Total (For no wicket; 18 Overs) 34 Still to bat NRT Gubbins, JM Clarke, LS Livingstone, AL Davies†, P Coughlin, TS Roland-Jones, MJ Leach, MS Crane, JA Porter Bowling Reifer 2-1-30, Louis 2-0-5-0, Joseph 2-1-1-0, Cornwall 7-2-110, Warrican 5-3-13-0

Usain Bolt (right) and Sally Pearson believe there is the need for more sport in schools

U

Raymon Reifer hits down the ground watched

by England Lions Alex Davies (CWI Media photo)

Kingston.

Resuming from their overnight total of 159 for 4, West Indies were eventually bowled out for 422 an overall lead of 277 runs.

Hamilton provided the platform for the Windies total scoring a patient, even hundred that came off 187 balls and included 17 fours. He featured in three partnerships that held the Windies middle order together and propelled them to their challenging first innings score.

He added 41 with Kieran Powell (59) for the fourth wicket, 72 with Shane Dowrich (43) for the

fifth and 102 with Raymond Reifer for the sixth.

Reifer was in sight of his century but he was bowled by Jack Leach for 95. His knock came off 179 balls and included eight fours and two sixes.

Leach ended with figures of 6 for 138 to lead the bowling for the Lions.

Batting a second time, England were 34 without loss at stumps, still 243 runs behind.

Keaton Jennings will resume on 11 while Haseeb Hameed will carry on from 18 when play continues on Tuesday. (Sportsmax)

sain Bolt believes children of this generation need more sport and, as such, is supporting February’s push for schools to get equipment from Coles Stores in Australia.

The programme, which began earlier this month, trades purchases at the supermarkets, express stores or online retailers for vouchers. A voucher is received for every $10 spent in one of these stores.

The vouchers are then collected in a bin and registered schools can exchange these for an equivalent value in sporting goods. Bolt is all in.

“Everyone likes getting something new and hopefully this campaign will help a lot of schools get better equipment to help their students play safely and have more fun,” said eight-time Olympic gold medallist, Bolt.

According to Bolt, children should get out more than they do today and the initiative, which has provided more than $20 million worth of sports gear since 2010, may help in that regard.

“Nowadays people are less active than in the past – we drive everywhere and we spend most of our time sitting down – so it’s important to eat well and get enough exercise.”

Bolt has help in promoting the efforts, with Sally Pearson, reigning 100-metre hurdles World Champion, also getting on board.

“Sport has played such an important part in my life and it’s exciting to be part of a program which is helping Aussie kids take part in the sports they love,” she said.

(Sportsmax)

tuesDAY, february 20, 2018

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

Heywood still

"not out of the woods"

Pg 20

…calls it quits on blossoming rugby career At the age of 21, Abioce Heywood's career was running into greater heights

GFSCA/ Nauth’s Motor Spares, Trophy Stall, Mike’s Pharmacy Competition…

Regal Masters' reign over Wellman continues

Pg 22

…Speedboat power away from Success

Kishore Smith was in destructive mode knocking over three Success SC batsmen at the Zeeburg Sports Club Ground (John Ramsingh photos)

Regal Masters celebrate another wicket as their stranglehold over Mike’s Wellman continues

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